tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24560341433877485502024-03-13T15:36:33.049+00:00BMA NewsBathroom Manufacturers Associationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02086140932642033594noreply@blogger.comBlogger147125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456034143387748550.post-27032669565678754152016-04-13T11:40:00.000+01:002016-04-13T11:40:02.903+01:00Why should you join the Bathroom Manufacturers Association?<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: 'helvetica neue', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">Take a look at our latest video to see just a few of the benefits of membership to the BMA.</span></span></h3>
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<br />Bathroom Manufacturers Associationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02086140932642033594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456034143387748550.post-64099023326003976782016-03-21T10:47:00.001+00:002016-03-21T10:47:57.466+00:00BMA and partners raise over £5000 for the Children’s Burns Trust<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: white;">The Bathroom Manufacturers Association (BMA) was delighted to present the Children’s Burns Trust (CBT) with a cheque for £5,117 at last weeks KBB Birmingham event, after a year of successful fundraising activity.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Throughout 2015 the BMA held regular events, which included dress down Fridays, the Three Peaks Challenge and a charity golf challenge, which was organised by Darren Summerfield of Hubert Burda Media UK and Grahame Morrison from KB-Network, during the Annual Bathroom & Kitchen Business Conference at Heythrop Park Crowne Plaza Hotel to raise money for the charity in conjunction with the Hot Water Burns Like Fire campaign.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">CBT Operations Manager Alison Tweddle, who received the cheque on the BMA stand at KBB Birmingham, said: “We were delighted to be invited to KBB last week to receive this magnificent cheque from BMA President David Osborne. The support of BMA and their members has been invaluable to us – both from the fundraising point of view as well as that of raising awareness. </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">We are especially grateful to Chris and Amy for their efforts in regard to the 3 Peaks Challenge – and to everyone who participated in the Golf Day last year.”</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Alison added: “In addition to assisting with the cost of our rehabilitation programme, the funds raised will help us to continue and develop our prevention programme in 2016.”</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">In the photograph from left: Jackie Howard CBT, David Osborne BMA President, Alison Tweddle CBT and Darren Summerfield Hubert Burda Media UK.</span></div>
Bathroom Manufacturers Associationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02086140932642033594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456034143387748550.post-5758579393183166772015-10-16T12:57:00.001+01:002016-01-21T13:24:46.798+00:00Touch Points at Bathroom & Kitchen Business Conference 2015<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Toilet touch points, contact lenses with built-in blood-sugar analysis for diabetics and the subjectivity of colourful 6-sided beach balls were just three of the topics discussed at the recent Bathroom and Kitchen Business Conference.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The annual conference has always been designed to expand the minds of its delegates by getting them to look outside of their usual four walls, by challenging norms, and by creating some disruptive thoughts.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">And as you can see, it certainly did that!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The programme, specially curated for this year’s tenth anniversary event, lived up to its promises with speakers carefully briefed to push boundaries, to change attitudes, to inspire, but to avoid bathrooms and kitchens.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLQoCKuPceP6EC0RDEehGAooUji_WbWuFP4RUke-rKiChWX2rr_fYL7zg_Sb8lbJvabzbYS2CRN1pK161uwQRjkrxer2UsS5caEqBOm-gQFPPehn4wuQOfzBPviBBUEq-c3VHmXLrCwXs-/s1600/BMA+Conference+2015-0391.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLQoCKuPceP6EC0RDEehGAooUji_WbWuFP4RUke-rKiChWX2rr_fYL7zg_Sb8lbJvabzbYS2CRN1pK161uwQRjkrxer2UsS5caEqBOm-gQFPPehn4wuQOfzBPviBBUEq-c3VHmXLrCwXs-/s320/BMA+Conference+2015-0391.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">First up was Paul McGee who surprised and, some say, shocked delegates into a rude awakening with his highly engaging and participative talk on Communicating for Success. Setting delegates with a number of tasks and challenging the audience to “be MAD” and make a difference certainly did its job.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">McGee’s high energy and inspiring warm up was only relieved when broadcaster and business correspondent Jonty Bloom brought us back to earth with his detailed, and at times, chilling review of Business in Europe. He spoke about the challenges of the European Community and the economic condition of its member states. He compared them with the state of business in America, a nod perhaps to some members of the audience who had flown in especially for the event. They had come from the BMA’s equivalent association in the US, Plumbing Manufacturers International.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Jonty then considered ‘that elephant in the room’ - the UK. He gave his thoughts on how our country might fare in the forthcoming referendum but being a media man, warned us not to believe everything we see in the headlines!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Sustainability was the next thorny subject for discussion with Nick Pollard who had many years’ experience working for the ‘big boys’ in the construction industry. His talk challenged delegates to consider running a sustainable business not only through its products but from its very core. He reminded us that running a sustainable business was good for the bottom line. Sustainability could also win contracts and keep the business out of trouble. Inspiring thoughts.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Designer Dick Powell changed the scene with his excellent multi-media presentation wowing the audience with his thoughts on ‘cool hunting’ and suggesting that if we wanted to see into the future we should contact him first! He boasted that he lives in the future – that’s his role in life!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Powell suggested (no, demanded) that business leaders should protect its innovation process. He argued that industry cannot live without it. He wanted us to challenge the norm, to consider our product’s touch points (an interesting thought when you contemplate a toilet!) and to create new paradigms. He told us to think wide but get close to our customers. More inspiring stuff.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Onto sales and marketing next with a review of the changes in retailing from Professor Joshua Bamfield, and the rapid advance of all-things-digital from Allister Frost.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Bamfield pursued a careful study into the rapidly changing world of retailing – a change brought on by the recession of 2008 when the industry “fell off the cliff edge.” He suggested that today’s shopper is a new shopper. The recession made people rethink how they shopped and he forecast that by around 2025 at least 25% of <u>all</u> purchases will be made on line. Omni-channel retailing, show-rooming, web-rooming and queue busting are the current trends and retailers can’t hide from them.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Allister Frost took marketing to a new level. He once headed Microsoft’s marketing and had been responsible for many of its product launches. He reviewed the pace of change in the digital world and there is no doubt that it is now so fast it’s difficult for mere humans to keep up.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The speed of delivery of products purchased on line is exercising the minds of those in the know. He asked us to recall the days of 28-day delivery. Now it’s getting down to 28 minutes. Stand by for changes in bathrooms and kitchens.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The full day of presentations was brought to a close with a key note from multi award winning broadcaster and journalist, Michael Buerk. What a speaker! And what better way than to conclude a conference with a sideways look at the world from a master of his craft.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Buerk recalled his recent purchase of new bathrooms for his home. His wife “made most of the decisions.” Nothing new there then! He also spoke about his time in the jungle of reality TV before giving us his view of where humanity seems to be going. “What are people turning in to?” he asked and promptly told us what he thought. There is a massive growth in global numbers but we are becoming more individualistic. Is that good for society?</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Buerk left us on a high but with profound points of view to contemplate.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The day’s conference concluded with the customary Gala Dinner and Media Awards. David Osborne, the BMA’s President announced the winners of this year’s awards which had been democratically selected by the BMA membership.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The winners were:</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Best Trade Magazine</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> – Essential Kitchen and Bathroom Business</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Best Consumer Magazine</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> – Kitchens Bedrooms and Bathrooms</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Best Trade Journalist/Editor</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> – Rebecca Nottingham</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Best Consumer Journalist/Editor </span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">– Ruth Bell</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Best Digital Contribution </span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">– KBBDaily</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Best Exhibition</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> - Sleep</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">And now you are asking what about those colourful six-sided beach balls.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">They came during the opening talk by Paul McGee when he reminded us that you should always look at your company as if you were the customer. To illustrate this, place a six-sided beach ball between you and your customer. Each side of the ball has a different colour. You will see three colours, looking out. But the customer will see three completely different colours, looking in. Think about it. It’s serious.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The Bathroom and Kitchen Conference 2015 did exactly as it was billed. It had something for everyone. Bet you’re sorry you missed it.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Hi-Resolutions images available on request. </span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Bathroom Manufacturers Associationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02086140932642033594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456034143387748550.post-75644638154648084162015-05-07T16:54:00.003+01:002015-05-07T16:54:31.858+01:00BMA Scales New Heights<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img align="left" height="143" src="http://img2.ymlp300.net/thph_3peaks_1.gif" v:shapes="_x0000_s1026" width="250" /><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">BMA Marketing Manager
Amy Kirk and Technical Director Christian Taylor-Hamlin will be taking part in
the Three Peaks Challenge this August to raise funds for the BMA’s chosen
charity the Children’s Burns Trust.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The challenge will see them take on the three
biggest mountains in Great Britain – Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">They will be scaling the 42km, in a combined
climb time of no more than 24 hours, across three </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">grueling</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> days with the aim
of raising awareness of the dangers of hot water in the home.</span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">“We wanted to take part in a challenge that
would push us physically and hopefully create a good level of sponsorship for
the charity” says Amy Kirk. “The Three Peaks is a notoriously difficult test
and we are hoping the industry will get behind the challenge and help us raise
lots of money for the Children’s s Burns trust.”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The BMA along with the Children’s Burns Trust
launched the Hot Water Burns Like Fire campaign in October at the 2014 Annual
Bathroom and Kitchen Business Conference.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">As part of the fundraising activities the team
are offering members and affiliate members the opportunity to sponsor the team
t-shirts with a variety of slots available as well as features on the teams’
finish line banner. If you would like information on sponsorship you can
request a pack from <a href="mailto:amy.kirk@bathroom-association.org.uk">amy.kirk@bathroom-association.org.uk</a>.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The team also have a JustGiving page where you
can donate to the cause visit <a href="http://t.ymlp300.net/umweataesejhadaembaoamhym/click.php">www.justgiving.com/hwblf </a></span><o:p></o:p></div>
Bathroom Manufacturers Associationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02086140932642033594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456034143387748550.post-5970707899592415472015-05-06T09:47:00.000+01:002015-05-06T09:47:28.108+01:00Big names booked for Industry Conference<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This year’s Bathroom and Kitchen Industry Business Conference, with the
working title ‘<b>Challenging Norms,’ </b>is
already proving to be a big hit.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“With just less than 6 months to go before the event, both speakers and
industry luminaries are being lined up to take part,” delights Yvonne Orgill,
CEO of the BMA which is organising the conference. “Delegate bookings are now being
taken and are in fact already ahead of last year. The pressure is on to build upon
our previous successes.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Several famous names have been engaged to give the long-established
event the quality which the conference demands. Here are the first four.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span></w:wrap></v:imagedata></v:shape><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">Heading
the list is <b>Michael Buerk</b> </span><span lang="EN" style="line-height: 115%;">who has enjoyed a long career
as a journalist and newsreader.</span></span><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_4" o:spid="_x0000_s1028" style="height: 92.15pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 2.4pt; position: absolute; text-align: justify; visibility: visible; width: 137.15pt; z-index: 251660288;" type="#_x0000_t75"><v:imagedata o:title="" src="file:///C:\Users\AmyKirk\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image002.png"><w:wrap type="square"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></w:wrap></v:imagedata></v:shape><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">When
it comes to product design and innovation, one man always stands out from the
pack, </span><b style="line-height: 115%;">Dick Powell.</b><span style="line-height: 115%;"> He is co-founder
and Chairman of internationally renowned design and innovation company
Seymourpowell.</span></span><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_5" o:spid="_x0000_s1027" style="height: 105.9pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 4.9pt; position: absolute; text-align: justify; visibility: visible; width: 109.6pt; z-index: 251661312;" type="#_x0000_t75"><v:imagedata o:title="" src="file:///C:\Users\AmyKirk\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image003.png"><w:wrap type="square"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></w:wrap></v:imagedata></v:shape><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">Paul McGee</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"> is an internationally
recognised speaker and best-selling author whose presentations are relevant,
thought provoking and packed with unique insights.</span></span><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_7" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" style="height: 126.2pt; margin-left: -2.75pt; margin-top: 3.9pt; position: absolute; text-align: justify; visibility: visible; width: 109.6pt; z-index: 251663360;" type="#_x0000_t75"><v:imagedata o:title="" src="file:///C:\Users\AmyKirk\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image004.png"><w:wrap type="square"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></w:wrap></v:imagedata></v:shape><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Hosting
the conference is </span><b style="line-height: 115%;">Kasia Madera</b><span style="line-height: 115%;">.
Kasia is a BBC World News presenter and is one of the main anchors of the
‘Newsday’ programme, she can also be seen on World News Today which is shown on
BBC4 and BBC World. Kasia has worked as a Journalist and Presenter at the BBC
since 2002. Kasia has worked on many of the big news stories. A particular
highlight was presenting on the night of the London 2012 Olympics Opening
Ceremony. Kasia's programme was simulcast on BBC One and attracted some of the
BBC News Channel's highest audience figures.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN" style="line-height: 115%;">He </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">has probably won more international awards for
television reporting than any other British journalist</span><span lang="EN" style="line-height: 115%;">. Michael will bring us a
fresh observation of the pressure on industry to <i>deliver</i> with ruthless and decisive management. He will challenge
our norms in his Key Note speech. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He has many years’ experience in the bathroom and kitchen industry but
for the conference he will be looking beyond the usual boundaries, challenging
norms. His talk ‘Designing Innovation’ describes his belief that design is not
just about being different or more stylish, but about being better - better for
people, better for business and better for the world <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">His aim in these presentations is to engage, entertain, and above all
equip people with both ideas and the inspiration to make a difference. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">His talk will develop his SUMO theories; dealing with change, building
better relationships, developing a resilient attitude to life, maintaining
morale and motivation, dealing with stress, inspiring confidence, releasing
potential, building character, creating possibilities - and we suspect much more!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Once again we are looking outside our four walls, looking beyond our
industry, and challenging norms” says Orgill. “We have taken last year’s
feedback on board and this year’s conference is shaping up to be a triumph!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Bathroom and Kitchen Industry Conference<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tuesday 13 October 2015<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Heythrop Park, Enstone, Oxfordshire<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.bathroom-association.org/annual-conference/"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.bathroom-association.org/annual-conference/</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri Light, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Bathroom Manufacturers Associationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02086140932642033594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456034143387748550.post-67860928279773302282015-03-17T14:12:00.001+00:002016-01-21T13:24:25.988+00:00CEIR Congress 2015 Blog is Live<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEira53y11H8eWBMv44ZejCReZ4a_stDvSJR6CTcWf0765VoI5IxETNJlag3yD0GCi3uZToLmOSx50ghJyScMSFp4i68FSQM_gyuOGLpdTKPvj6AfxVeTAqPNEb07aRg99XjXZxkmm5qtZVL/s1600/CEIR+Congress+Blog+Banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEira53y11H8eWBMv44ZejCReZ4a_stDvSJR6CTcWf0765VoI5IxETNJlag3yD0GCi3uZToLmOSx50ghJyScMSFp4i68FSQM_gyuOGLpdTKPvj6AfxVeTAqPNEb07aRg99XjXZxkmm5qtZVL/s400/CEIR+Congress+Blog+Banner.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />The CEIR 2015 Congress will be hosted by the <a href="http://www.bathroom-association.org.uk/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">BMA</span></a>, and will take place in <span style="color: red;"><a href="http://www.ruddingpark.co.uk/contact-us/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Rudding Park Hotel, Follifoot, Harrogate, North Yorkshire</span></a>,</span> from Thursday 11th June to Saturday 13th June 2015. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">This 2015 event will bring presentations and discussions addressed to all technologies, sanitary, building and industrial valves on sustainability, the internal market, intellectual property rights, innovation, market access, the economic outlook.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">For more information please viist <a href="http://ceircongress2015.blogspot.co.uk/">http://ceircongress2015.blogspot.co.uk/</a></span> <span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></span><br />
<br />Bathroom Manufacturers Associationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02086140932642033594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456034143387748550.post-77280957426690717212015-01-12T13:32:00.002+00:002015-01-12T13:43:01.643+00:00Bathroom & Kitchen Business Conference 2015<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>SAVE THE DATE</b></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Organisers of the well-established Annual Bathroom and Kitchen Conference have declared the 2014 event the biggest and most successful yet with well over 240 delegates attending over the two days of activities.</span></div>
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The Conference has proved yet again to be the most significant networking, educational and business event in the sector. Now the work has begun in earnest to arrange the 2015 Conference and already the date and venue have been secured. </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://bathroom-association.org.uk/annual-conference/"><img src="http://img.ymlp.com/thph_HoldingpageimageTwitterandfacebook_1.png" height="243" style="border: 0pt none; vertical-align: middle;" width="600" /></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“We have analysed the great feedback received for last year’s Conference,” says Yvonne Orgill, CEO at the BMA and Leader of the organising team. “Delegates love the facilities at Heythrop Park so we are going back again this year. And the dates suit everybody, being well away from the holiday season. Nitty Gritty is firmly fixed to the agenda this year. We are planning a little less marketing fluff but more business inspiration and motivation presented by top business speakers from outside our industry.”</span></div>
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The Conference, as before, is open to all in the Bathrooms and Kitchens industry and is set once more to be the ‘go to’ Conference of the year.</div>
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To keep up to date with Conference News, Sponsorship, and Exhibition opportunities check out the newly created pages at the BMA website <a href="http://www.bathroom-association.org.uk/annual-conference">www.bathroom-association.org.uk/annual-conference</a></div>
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<h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Follow us on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/BandKConf">@BandKConf</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/BMAbathrooms">@BMAbathrooms</a>.</span></h2>
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Bathroom Manufacturers Associationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02086140932642033594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456034143387748550.post-86718334274008986512015-01-12T12:49:00.001+00:002015-01-12T12:49:25.989+00:00Water Label appears at the Big One<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXWO9lusbp8xQmE-EYlOifep0NAihk24uIQ-M7KA0yPcERXyEfWEbEU7tNSqTqB0hV1L142xDUdVSzk9b3aRoZhD0exd1qYAB2jUSz40Pr9Xq7hkG-ke8wpBkIg7WL9XOy3-R0ea3mr4Rn/s1600/ISH_RGB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXWO9lusbp8xQmE-EYlOifep0NAihk24uIQ-M7KA0yPcERXyEfWEbEU7tNSqTqB0hV1L142xDUdVSzk9b3aRoZhD0exd1qYAB2jUSz40Pr9Xq7hkG-ke8wpBkIg7WL9XOy3-R0ea3mr4Rn/s1600/ISH_RGB.jpg" height="105" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The award-winning European Water Label will be
making an appearance at the Big One – ISH Frankfurt, the world’s biggest
showcase for innovative bathroom design, and water and energy efficiency. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“We’re really excited about exhibiting at ISH in
2015,” says Yvonne Orgill, Director of The Water European Water Label. “The exhibition is the biggest bathroom show
in Europe and together with our European partners CEIR (the European
Association for the Taps and Valves Industry) and FECS (Fédération Européenne
des Fabricants de Céramiques Sanitaires) we will be showing why this voluntary
product labelling scheme is so important for us all.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The Water Label is growing rapidly with over 73
listed brands and is established in 32 nations across Europe and beyond. Major
bathroom and kitchen manufacturers, builders merchants and bathroom retailers
have joined the scheme together with its accompanying on-line database of
products. Its appearance at ISH will be a
huge stimulus and many more brands are expected to sign up, there and then, at
the event. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The European Water Label, developed by the
Bathroom Manufacturers Association, is now operated as a separate limited
company, registered in the UK. It gives
both the consumer and the industry professional alike, all the necessary water
usage characteristics of almost 8000 products. Simply put, the water
consumption for each product can be seen at a glance and the information
provided can be used to aid the choice of bathroom and kitchen components.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The Label is increasingly used by bathroom and
kitchen retailers who have acknowledged its power as a sales and marketing
tool. Savvy consumers who want to save
money by reducing their energy and water consumption are now asking for
Labelled products, and savvy retailers are giving them the advice and choice
which the Label provides. Retailers are displaying the Water Label in their
showrooms and have also taken advantage of free listing, as stockists,
available in the database.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The entirely voluntary European Water Label is
an undeniable success which is low cost, maintains consumer choice, and does
exactly what it is designed to do – inform and educate. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">ISH, at Messe Frankfurt, runs from 10 and 14
March 2015 and almost 200,000 visitors are expected, around one third coming
from outside Europe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="http://www.europeanwaterlabel.eu/home.asp">www.europeanwaterlabel.eu/home.asp<o:p></o:p></a></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="http://ish.messefrankfurt.com/frankfurt/en/besucher/willkommen.html">http://ish.messefrankfurt.com/frankfurt/en/besucher/willkommen.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Bathroom Manufacturers Associationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02086140932642033594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456034143387748550.post-2519408782116588352015-01-12T12:47:00.002+00:002015-01-12T13:41:20.489+00:00BMA chooses its charity <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBgI1YYFN-4w6pehaV_lBblzYAgTE8UDgFNJmwPy2th4k7zDMd3mrlRBvK1z7-Iwi23_r6Ce5HrMiNELlgpIWN92FXWhE6Q6I9cWTtrZ3IjH_ORJcPaLSqZdRrfh2xal3rn3SlCuQNfnnC/s1600/HWBLF+jpeg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBgI1YYFN-4w6pehaV_lBblzYAgTE8UDgFNJmwPy2th4k7zDMd3mrlRBvK1z7-Iwi23_r6Ce5HrMiNELlgpIWN92FXWhE6Q6I9cWTtrZ3IjH_ORJcPaLSqZdRrfh2xal3rn3SlCuQNfnnC/s1600/HWBLF+jpeg.jpg" height="320" width="301" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With the New Year fast approaching the Bathroom Manufacturers association has been deliberating over one of its important of resolutions - the selection of its nominated charity for 2015.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"This year it's going to be The Children's Burns Trust," says Yvonne Orgill, Chief Executive of the BMA. "We are delighted to have the CBT as our charity for 2015. We have been working closely with the charity throughout 2014 culminating in the launch of our joint campaign Hot Water Burns Like Fire.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have grown to realise what an important and caring organisation the CBT really is. Anyone can get scalded in an instant, and their lives can be changed forever. Youngsters are the most vulnerable and the CBT does a wonderful job. We are really pleased to be able to support them."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The BMA's major fund raising event of the year takes place on 'The Fringe' of the Bathroom and Kitchen Industry Business Conference. The Charity Golf Challenge has been held annually, with a few breaks, since the early 1900's and over the last few years an average of £2000 has been raised. In 2015 the real challenge will be to break the record and raise even more. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The new campaign - Hot Water Burns Like Fire - is aimed at preventing scalding accidents in bathrooms and kitchens by raising awareness of the dangers of hot water and by promoting the use of simple thermostatic devices to eliminate the risks. It is supported and endorsed by Amanda Redman, MBE, the much-loved British actor who was herself scalded when only 15 months old.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span>Bathroom Manufacturers Associationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02086140932642033594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456034143387748550.post-63690456319785824372015-01-12T12:45:00.002+00:002015-01-12T13:44:07.658+00:00Annual Congress 2015<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Plans for the CEIR Annual Congress 2015, being
held in the UK, are well advanced and details are beginning to emerge for this
important business event in the CEIR calendar.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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</span>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The award winning Rudding Park Hotel, located in
the Spa town of Harrogate, North Yorkshire, is the 4 Star venue for the meeting
being held from <b>Thursday 11th June to
Saturday 13th June 2015</b>. Save the dates!</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Bathroom Manufacturers Associationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02086140932642033594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456034143387748550.post-51607613166631466922014-11-18T17:09:00.000+00:002015-02-05T17:10:08.602+00:00Marketing to our Future Selves<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">There is a certain inevitability about the
subject but ‘Marketing to our Future Selves’ proved to be a popular subject
during presentations at this year’s Bathroom and Kitchen Business
Conference.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Key industry decision makers
attended the event which surprised many with its quality and depth of discussions.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The ‘grey market’ was just one of the topics on
the agenda and Mat Hunter, Chief Design Officer at the Design Council which champions
the use of design and architecture to improve lives, developed the discussion
which had manufacturers totally absorbed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mat suggested that we were sitting on what he
described as a ‘demographic time bomb’.
The population in the UK is expanding and growing older with the 85+ age
group set to double in the next 25 years. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This, he regarded, was an opportunity too good
to miss. But the UK Bathroom and Kitchen industry was doing just that – missing
it! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The grey market has not been tackled by
designers and manufacturers with sufficient seriousness. Certainly there are
products out there that are well designed and look good. But they are subject
to a ‘failure of marketing.’ There is insufficient choice and prices are too
high. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The UK industry needs to wake up to the
challenges which the aging population is creating and with an injection of
creative thinking manufacturers will both supply the growing the need and, in
turn, satisfy their shareholders. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri Light, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Bathroom Manufacturers Associationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02086140932642033594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456034143387748550.post-86326986048475146802014-11-18T17:08:00.000+00:002015-02-05T17:09:17.263+00:00The NHIC chooses best Home Improvement Journalist<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The <a href="http://www.nhic.org.uk/" target="_blank">NHIC, National Home Improvement Council</a>, recently
held its annual awards ceremony in London and the Bathroom Manufacturers
Association was delighted to sponsor one of the categories.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The BMA itself is an award winning trade association
and knows only too well the value of award schemes such as this. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Winning an award is a fabulous pat on the back,” says
Yvonne Orgill, BMA Chief, “and its recognition that you are doing something
right. It’s a great morale booster.
Loosing is terribly disappointing but it maybe, just maybe, the much-needed
shot in the arm which leads you on to even greater things.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the 2014 NHIC awards, now in their 37<sup>th</sup>
year, the BMA sponsored the <b><i>Home Improvement Journalist of the Year </i></b> This category looked for the journalist who had
shown the most consistent, sustained and enthusiastic support for sustainable
home improvements, particularly in the bathroom. The winning journalist needed
to prove that he or she has shown this support with innovative, original and
attractive copy which engages and inspires the reader, whether a seasoned
professional or a casual consumer reader.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The shortlist gave the judges something of a headache
and choosing the winner proved extremely difficult. But the NHIC judging team selected
Philippa Turrell, Editor of<a href="http://www.kandbnews.co.uk/" target="_blank"> K&B News</a> at Hamerville Magazines Ltd. Many
congratulations to Philippa!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;"><i style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Worthy
runner up was Chris Jones of Chris Jones, Editor, <a href="http://www.phamnews.co.uk/" target="_blank">PHAM News</a></span></b></i></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;">
</span>Bathroom Manufacturers Associationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02086140932642033594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456034143387748550.post-63350230539146988392014-11-18T17:07:00.000+00:002015-02-05T17:07:28.941+00:00World Toilet Day – what will you do?<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Today is World Toilet Day and it prompts the question - what
will you do?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s an astonishing fact that about one third of the world’s
people, in real numbers that’s around 2,500,000,000, don’t have the benefit of
a toilet. Indeed they don’t even have a
decent water supply. And because of that
they die of terrible diseases surrounded in squalor. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s another awful fact that more children die each year with
diarrhoeal diseases than die of AIDS, malaria and measles combined. Shocking.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unfortunately, the problem tends to be forgotten since it’s
not a popular subject for discussion over the dinner table. Nor is it a popular
subject for our leaders. It just isn’t
politics. Despite compelling evidence that shows the benefits and substantial returns
of investing in sanitation, it continues to be an ‘unglamorous’ subject for
many policy-makers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Defecating in the open is certainly no fun yet billions
suffer this indignity. And in schools the lack of clean and safe toilets leads
to a high dropout, especially among girls. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There’s no doubt that we have a major problem on our hands
and since its world toilet day what will you do?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Talking about it would be a start.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Bathroom Manufacturers Associationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02086140932642033594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456034143387748550.post-60937773458059637732014-11-18T17:05:00.000+00:002015-02-05T17:06:14.798+00:00Agility is key<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unbelievably it is six weeks since the hugely
successful Bathroom and Kitchen Bathroom Business Conference and the industry continues
to reap the rewards. I am constantly in
touch with the BMA membership and everyone I have spoken to has mentioned some
aspect of the conference which has helped them improve their businesses.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of its key messages can be summed up in the
simple word – agility. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The President of the BMA, David Osborne, mentioned
agility in his closing speech. The world is moving faster than ever and
communication is set to be faster still.
So how does the industry respond?
“It is quite clear” said Osborne “that we have to be very quick on our
feet if we are to survive. If there is
one thing above all else to take away from this conference it is agility.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fiona Hawkins, one of the eight speakers at the event, spoke
at length about agile marketing and what it means. In the future, companies may have to scrap
their annual marketing plans but improve the speed, predictability,
transparency, and adaptability of the marketing function. The process has to be
iterative, allowing for short marketing experiments, frequent feedback, and the
ability to react to changing market conditions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The highest priority has to be to satisfy customers through
early and continuous delivery of ‘marketing’ which solves problems and creates real
value. Marketing plans have to be developed quickly and companies have to be
prepared to change plans quickly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I earnestly believe that to achieve <u>agility</u> then <u>simplicity</u>
is an essential ingredient. I am
reminded of the KISS principle! Close attention to the fundamentals and good
design helps to enhance agility.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The messages taken away from the conference were on the one
hand very powerful, yet on the other hand very simple. Just how it should be!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yvonne Orgill, CEO, Bathroom Manufacturers Association </span><o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
Bathroom Manufacturers Associationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02086140932642033594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456034143387748550.post-19983956429447666922014-10-09T16:45:00.003+01:002014-10-09T16:47:00.046+01:00The Annual Bathroom and Kitchen Conference 2014 - THANK YOU! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: '&quot', serif;">We
would like to extend a huge thank you to all of our supporters and
attendees over the last couple of days, we hope you took as much information
away with you as we did! Below is a little taster of the whole event & the Conference Video opener. To check out the rest of the photos
be sure to check out our Facebook page</span><span style="font-family: "&quot","serif";">
<a href="http://t.ymlp284.net/umshaaauhymsazaesjapaq/click.php">here</a><a href="http://t.ymlp284.net/umswagauhymsaaaesjaraq/click.php">! </a></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/zjIxPCGUdD4?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />Bathroom Manufacturers Associationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02086140932642033594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456034143387748550.post-53218532593611319962014-07-15T12:56:00.001+01:002014-07-15T12:56:05.797+01:00@bandkconf – the full line up announcedThe full line up of speakers for this year’s Bathroom and Kitchen Business Conference has been announced and there is no doubt that they will be brimming with ideas to inspire the B&K industry on the theme of Marketing the Future.<br />
<br />
Yvonne Orgill, Chief Executive of the BMA is delighted with how the arrangements are shaping up. “We have eight very powerful, opinionated and fresh-thinking speakers this year and they will fit perfectly with the newly-expanded event. The conference has grown over the last decade and is now the biggest, longest-established and most confident of its kind. The change to include kitchens is proving very popular and our speakers will all have something to say about how the kbb industry needs to market itself in the future.”<br />
<br />
•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dick Strawbridge MBE - Opening speaker. British engineer, television presenter and environmentalist and passionate about sustainability.<br />
•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Nick Stanhope - CEO of We Are What We Do<br />
•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Fiona Hawkins - Managing Director of integrated marketing agency Plinkfizz<br />
•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Heather Sophia Athie - Account Director at Mynewsdesk<br />
•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Clif McLellan - Vice President Water Systems at NSF International.<br />
•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Mat Hunter - Chief Design Officer at Design Council, directing the organisation's Design Challenges programme<br />
•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>BJ Cunningham - Serial entrepreneur and council member of Business Superbrands.<br />
•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>David Schneider - Co-founder of That Lot. Social Media Consultant, Actor/writer/director/comedian<br />
<br />
In the ever-changing world of social media the conference is geared to providing delegates with a new insight into the latest marketing tools.<br />
<br />
The content-rich event on 7 October will be held at the stunning Heythrop Park, Enstone, Oxfordshire and will be hosted by Juliet Mann, the broadcast journalist, conference moderator and business consultant. http://mrsmann.co.uk/2014/06/12/weoy/<br />
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Bathroom Manufacturers Associationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02086140932642033594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456034143387748550.post-77925230029893386482014-07-07T10:41:00.003+01:002014-07-07T10:41:58.346+01:00Hear that noise? <span style="font-size: large;">Hear that noise? </span><br />
<br />
It's the sound of the bandwagon gathering speed.<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Yes, there
is something of a bandwagon going on at this year’s Bathroom and Kitchen
Business Conference. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">It’s started
rolling and given that you never want to miss a trick, you might like your
company to climb aboard. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Join the
phenomenon.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixYm6VZA6DenlR8-Zyqw7mmnLJd11L_ftdOWGLEXhSfG8Te7wXF_UdWx3mXlLLYeXC9nFJ-1d1ZWNqXKcR3PSHoJAOuFYqVMbJzXlU-_l1FaL1OMTM-2y-HCo8CIHM71W1A2s1-erRfnFK/s1600/Conf+spons+fprm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixYm6VZA6DenlR8-Zyqw7mmnLJd11L_ftdOWGLEXhSfG8Te7wXF_UdWx3mXlLLYeXC9nFJ-1d1ZWNqXKcR3PSHoJAOuFYqVMbJzXlU-_l1FaL1OMTM-2y-HCo8CIHM71W1A2s1-erRfnFK/s1600/Conf+spons+fprm.JPG" height="320" width="306" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">You are all invited to get involved, sponsor the event, take space at the exhibition and, of course, book your seats.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">You may not have heard (but you should have!) that this year’s conference has introduced not one, but two enormous changes. Here are the details…</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;"><span style="font-size: large;">About time too</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">Firstly, as its new name obviously implies, conference has expanded and now includes the kitchen industry. “About time too” we hear you say! The conference has grown over the last decade and is now the biggest, longest established and most confident event of its kind. The change to include kitchens was an understandable development and is proving very popular. </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Get a part of the action</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">Secondly, it is now open to sponsorship by BMA members, affiliates, non-members, anybody! For the last few years it was thought wise to exclude members from sponsoring the event. That may have been right some years ago, when the BMA was still an infant. But it isn’t now. Members have been clamouring, even pleading, to get a part of the action so from this year the doors have been thrown open and sponsorship is welcomed from all areas. Members or non-members. </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The bandwagon is away</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">So there we have it. The stable doors have been flung wide and the bandwagon is away. You can hear it.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">There are a range of sponsorship deals available. All include space at the 2-day exhibition and all include a seat at the conference itself. Furthermore all sponsors logos feature in every publication whether it’s in print or digital, in conference movies, on the blog. In fact wherever we can squeeze you in. The list goes on.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;"><a href="http://bandkconf2014.blogspot.co.uk/p/sponsors-form.html" target="_blank">Here is a link</a> to the Conference Blog and the Sponsorship form </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">But if you prefer to speak to someone try 01782 631619 </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">or </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">email conf2014@bathroom-association.org.uk</span></div>
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Bathroom Manufacturers Associationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02086140932642033594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456034143387748550.post-89959239279461623952014-07-01T11:55:00.001+01:002014-07-01T11:55:10.517+01:00Minister "hugely heartened" with Water Label<div class="MsoNormal">
At the recent AGM of the Keele-based Bathroom Manufacturers Association, a packed house of over sixty members heard a speech from Dan Rogerson MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for water, forestry, rural affairs and resource management. He praised the work of the association and in particular its development of the European Water Label.</div>
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<span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 11.413333892822266px;"> Dan Rogerson, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at DEFRA</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 11.413333892822266px;"> Yvonne Orgill, CEO, Bathroom Manufacturers Association<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 11.413333892822266px;"> Steve Lee, President, Bathroom Manufacturers Association<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Steve Lee, President of the BMA, welcomed Mr. Rogerson who had broken away from his usual busy schedule in order to attend the BMA’s meeting which was held in Pall Mall, London, on 24 June 2014.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The audience were delighted to hear Mr. Rogerson talk about his support for the Water Label project, brainchild of the BMA, and now seen on 6500 bathroom and kitchen products in over 30 countries. He applauded the efforts of the BMA to promote the label in the UK and across Europe and was “hugely heartened” to see how the label was influencing purchasing decisions. This was just the first step for the label which had the potential to be used on a wide range of water using products.<o:p></o:p></div>
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He explained how and why water supply had become a key issue in the UK, and confirmed that the Water Act 2014, which received Royal Assent in May, would reform the water industry making it more innovative and responsive to customers. He was delighted to see that that the voluntary Water Label would be well established when the reforms enabled by the Act would come in.<o:p></o:p></div>
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During question time Mr. Rogerson talked about the importance of bathroom retailers in promoting the Water Label to consumers but confirmed that there were no plans to provide cash incentives to consumers to replace their old appliances.<o:p></o:p></div>
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He concluded with congratulations to the BMA and its members in developing the Water Label describing it as “at the cutting edge” in European product labelling.</div>
Bathroom Manufacturers Associationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02086140932642033594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456034143387748550.post-50477085567941038822014-06-17T08:34:00.002+01:002014-06-19T13:18:57.403+01:00A night of celebration as The European Water Label wins its 4th award!<span style="font-size: large;">At the important Water Efficiency Awards last night, 16 June 2014, the Bathroom Manufacturers Association, which administers The Water Label Company, won its fourth award.</span><br />
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The UK Government’s Environment Agency and Waterwise UK Water Efficiency Awards 2014 is the most high profile awards scheme in the UK to recognise the water efficiency achievements of the public, private and third sector organisations who promote water efficiency. The award was given in the Campaigns & Education category.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk3uP7NKoc8F1p0P2gfxBAvzkfElp71bTZXvvs_NkTdlN7k2_AauqhDvuAeaTskorEZeQFktQ55lO6yM3lyc07fQPVccLMwIvNgWXN4wvjd-OwcBW1byM4Nc6Wlx_z4EaIZ37Qo7LVgXpf/s1600/Water+Efficiency+Winner+Logo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk3uP7NKoc8F1p0P2gfxBAvzkfElp71bTZXvvs_NkTdlN7k2_AauqhDvuAeaTskorEZeQFktQ55lO6yM3lyc07fQPVccLMwIvNgWXN4wvjd-OwcBW1byM4Nc6Wlx_z4EaIZ37Qo7LVgXpf/s1600/Water+Efficiency+Winner+Logo.JPG" height="176" width="400" /></a></div>
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The European Water Label, which was developed by the BMA and is entirely voluntary can now be seen on bathroom and kitchen products across 32 countries in Europe.<br />
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It is supported by 68 major bathroom brands with over 6500 products listed in its on-line database. Water Label is also supported by the major builders merchants and retailers, the media, Water Utilities and over 1000 national stockists.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">“Needless to say we are absolutely delighted, thrilled to bits in fact,” says Yvonne Orgill, Chief Executive of the Bathroom Manufacturers Association. “It’s taken a number of years of hard work and determination by many people, particularly the staff of the BMA, to get The Water Label to this level of success and it’s wonderful to be given the recognition for it.” </span><br />
<br />
The European Water Label and its accompanying Water Calculator is used by architects and specifiers and the preferred source of information for identifying water usage characteristics of water using products.<br />
<br />
http://www.waterwise.org.uk/pages/water-efficient-awards-2014.html<br />
http://www.europeanwaterlabel.eu/<br />
http://www.thewatercalculator.org.uk/<br />
http://waterlabel.blogspot.co.uk/<br />
#WaterEfficiencyAwards<br />
@Waterwise<br />
@EnvAgencyBathroom Manufacturers Associationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02086140932642033594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456034143387748550.post-53455590502369949092014-06-13T15:09:00.001+01:002014-06-13T15:09:22.193+01:00Breakthrough thinking at Industry Conference<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd_DY7LgSOP07ccStd8RBsOCBW05uAdquWPXXAPFJ-ZITynvhQrpay5J0yUYJ61mbv4kxtPOu_wm0j7Y3GY-7zJS-eeRFCMD1gVA_2Cv1K1ECq1n1xBoDdtwtV18_3HPxSOSynzDx0tawW/s1600/Schneider+and+Cunningham+labelled+600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd_DY7LgSOP07ccStd8RBsOCBW05uAdquWPXXAPFJ-ZITynvhQrpay5J0yUYJ61mbv4kxtPOu_wm0j7Y3GY-7zJS-eeRFCMD1gVA_2Cv1K1ECq1n1xBoDdtwtV18_3HPxSOSynzDx0tawW/s1600/Schneider+and+Cunningham+labelled+600.jpg" height="243" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span mce_style="font-family: trebuchet ms,geneva;" style="font-family: trebuchet ms,geneva;"><span mce_style="font-size: 10pt;" style="font-size: 10pt;">Industry watchers might be wondering why a stand-up comedian who is an obsessive Twitter fan, and a Visiting Professor at Brighton University have been booked as speakers at the Bathroom and Kitchen Business Conference 2014 in October.</span></span></div>
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<span mce_style="font-family: trebuchet ms,geneva;" style="font-family: trebuchet ms,geneva;"><span mce_style="font-size: 10pt;" style="font-size: 10pt;">“Actually the bookings are entirely consistent with our stated aims to bring fresh ideas and breakthrough thinking to the industry,” says Yvonne Orgill, CEO of the Bathroom Manufacturers Association which is organising the event. “We are delighted that we have been able to secure both David Schneider and B J Cunningham this year. Both are great speakers and well respected in their fields. We are lucky to get them.”</span></span><br />
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<span mce_style="font-family: trebuchet ms,geneva;"><span mce_style="font-size: 10pt;" style="font-size: 10pt;">Schneider is best known as an actor/writer on TV shows such as <i>I’m Alan Partridge</i> or movies such as <i>Mission Impossible</i> and <i>28 Days Later</i>. But in 2013 he set up <b>That Lot Creatives</b> social media agency. An avid tweeter in his own right with 175,000 followers and counting, he and his team now provide content and advice for brands and businesses with clients such as the Huffington Post, the BBC and Channel 4.</span></span><br />
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<span mce_style="font-family: trebuchet ms,geneva;"><span mce_style="font-size: 10pt;" style="font-size: 10pt;">David Schneider will share some insights into how to tweet with real impact, how to use events and formats such as reactive listening and live-tweeting effectively, as well as looking at the basics such as sorting your tone of voice and writing the perfect tweet. With some great take-home tips on tweeting, retweeting, engagement and cutting through the noise, there'll be plenty of ideas and inspiration to help your brand or business maximise your online influence.</span></span><br />
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<span mce_style="font-family: trebuchet ms,geneva;"><span mce_style="font-size: 10pt;" style="font-size: 10pt;">BJ is a Visiting Professor at Brighton University, serves on the council of Business Superbrands and travels the world giving inspiring keynote presentations. He believes that “Loyalty in business is a long-term relationship, discounting is little more than a one-night stand.”</span></span> <span mce_style="font-family: trebuchet ms,geneva;"><span mce_style="font-size: 10pt;" style="font-size: 10pt;">BJ’s message is that a brand is a promise, not a logo; it’s about depth, not awareness. A business must know what it stands for, say it with clarity and do what it says. He has a reputation for challenging norms.</span></span><br />
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<span mce_style="font-family: trebuchet ms,geneva;"><span mce_style="font-size: 10pt;" style="font-size: 10pt;">Conference speakers, this year, will concentrate on the theme - MARKETING THE FUTURE – to encourage delegates from both the bathroom and kitchen industry to look outside the four walls of their office, their normal comfort zones. </span></span><br />
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<b style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The conference on Tuesday 7 October and its fringe events on Monday 6th
will be held at the stunning Heythrop Park Conference Centre, Enstone,
Oxfordshire.</span></b></div>
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The conference is open to all in the KBB industry and organisers
of the event are urging early booking to avoid disappointment. A range of delegate packages are
available. Attractive sponsorship deals
are on offer. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Details from the Conference Blog <a href="http://bandkconf2014.blogspot.co.uk/">http://bandkconf2014.blogspot.co.uk/</a>
or email <a href="mailto:conf2014@bathroom-association.org.uk">conf2014@bathroom-association.org.uk</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Bathroom Manufacturers Associationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02086140932642033594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456034143387748550.post-50437429134969771062014-05-06T13:17:00.000+01:002014-05-06T13:20:43.895+01:00Principles of Bathroom Design<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI-cbHCtlnFiLUVAjFxyQyJ1wRZSPToSTRhZqV-cUpRYc0YGor7vjX0g1imvux-BMJ5q_KmTz57GTAOw1rO_S07LzuhjEwCuz0enBKPOBW1EuSemHGCVdFNyYZOIH8YUYMA-msJpNCXaqk/s1600/Bathroom+Academy+purple+logo+png.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI-cbHCtlnFiLUVAjFxyQyJ1wRZSPToSTRhZqV-cUpRYc0YGor7vjX0g1imvux-BMJ5q_KmTz57GTAOw1rO_S07LzuhjEwCuz0enBKPOBW1EuSemHGCVdFNyYZOIH8YUYMA-msJpNCXaqk/s1600/Bathroom+Academy+purple+logo+png.PNG" height="96" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Next two workshops announced</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">18 JUNE 2014</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">16 JULY 2014</span></div>
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The BMA’s Bathroom Academy together with its supporter and sponsor 2020 Technologies Ltd announces the next two dates in this new bathroom design workshop.<br />
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These one-day workshops are designed to provide a short and intensive introduction to bathroom planning and design, and CAD software from 2020 Technologies Ltd.<br />
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Each workshop includes presentations, videos and tasks. At the end of the day delegates know more about bathroom products, how they are made and how they work. They know more about the bathroom planning and design process, what customers want (and cannot have!) from a new bathroom and the regulations (and restrictions) relating to bathroom design and refurbishment.<br />
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The seminar looks in depth at the 2020 Technologies design software and how it can be used to create photo-realistic 3D images of a proposed design. Delegates learn how to construct a real room room, add doors and windows, add bathroom fittings, wall and floor treatments and bring it all to life with lighting, style and colour. All on the training laptop, provided.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Workshops are held regularly at the </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">BMA’s Bathroom Academy Training Centre, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Keele University, Staffordshire.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hands-on CAD, using the training laptop.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Full training manual to take away.</span></div>
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<b>BOOKINGS BEING TAKEN NOW</b><br />
The Bathroom Academy, Innovation Centre 1,<br />
Keele Science & Business Park, Newcastle-under-Lyme, ST5 5BN<br />
Phone: 01782 631619 Fax: 01782 630155<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="mailto:info@bathroom-academy.co.uk">info@bathroom-academy.co.uk</a></span> <span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="http://www.bathroom-academy.co.uk/">www.bathroom-academy.co.uk</a></span> <br />
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PayPal payments accepted<br />
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Bathroom Manufacturers Associationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02086140932642033594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456034143387748550.post-67025842830688088002014-04-11T13:28:00.001+01:002014-04-11T13:28:13.180+01:00Marketing the Future<b>Youth, Energy, Vitality, Ideas, Innovation</b><br />
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'Very rapid' are the words which Yvonne Orgill is using to describe the progress being made with the arrangements for the Bathroom and Kitchen Conference 2104.<br />
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“We’re delighted with how the industry’s long established conference is developing this year” thrills Orgill, CEO of the BMA which organises the annual event. “Arrangements are coming along at quite a pace. We have the location secured – Heythrop Park in Oxfordshire, and the dates of 6 and 7 October for the fringe and the conference day itself.<br />
<br />
And we are now announcing the theme MARKETING THE FUTURE<br />
<br />
This covers a host of subjects and we will be concentrating on youth, energy, vitality, ideas and innovation for the future of our bathrooms and kitchens industry.”<br />
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Bathroom Manufacturers Associationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02086140932642033594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456034143387748550.post-90428510986289338742014-03-18T16:27:00.002+00:002014-03-18T16:27:19.857+00:00Bathroom Academy continues its PrinciplesThe build up to the opening of the next big John Lewis store has begun and the BMA has been appointed, once again, to provide the Partnership with more of its Principles of Bathroom Design training.<br />
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The huge new £15million store is set to open in York on 10 April and will feature a new fitted bathroom department. The store, which is part of the £90 million Vangarde development at Monks Cross, is John Lewis's first opening of 2014, and will be the chain's 41st shop.<br />
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Twelve store Partners (staff) will attend the ‘Principles’ training which has been designed to provide ‘the facts, not the fluff.’<br />
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Yvonne Orgill, Chief Executive of the Bathroom Manufacturers Association said ‘the Bathroom Academy is proving to be a very important tool in the industry’s tool box. Both our online materials and face-to-face seminars provide beginners with plain and simple information to get them started in the industry. It also helps those who have been in the industry for some time since it brings them a very useful reminder of the very latest in the bathroom business.’<br />
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The full day seminar will look behind the scenes of bathroom layout and design, explaining what can and what cannot be achieved in a new fitted bathroom and how plumbing systems and building regulations can affect the final design.<br />
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The seminar which is held in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere uses presentations, movies, exercises and tasks to ensure that the facts hit home during the memorable, knowledgable and enjoyable day.<br />
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More seminars, which will open to all bathroom retailers, are planned. Details from the Bathroom Academy.<br />
<br />
info@bathroom-academy.co.uk<br />
www.bathroom-academy.co.uk/<br />
<br />Bathroom Manufacturers Associationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02086140932642033594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456034143387748550.post-32288015573268987332014-01-14T10:25:00.001+00:002014-01-14T10:25:17.051+00:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Bathroom Manufacturers Associationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02086140932642033594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456034143387748550.post-70533838290700800842014-01-03T13:41:00.001+00:002014-01-03T13:41:44.397+00:00The European Water Label in a year of rapid progress2013 has seen rapid progress, development and growth of The European Water Label.<br />
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Following its adoption in Europe in 2012 the database of products has expanded, more manufacturers have joined the scheme and partnerships with major builders merchants and retailers have been forged.<br />
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Yvonne Orgill, chief executive of the Bathroom Manufacturers Association, based in the UK, takes a look back at the year.<br />
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<br />
It was a really thrilling start to the year when The Water Label won two major awards for its innovative approach to the labelling of water consuming products.<br />
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The first was in the Business Innovation Category at the UK’s Sentinel Awards (<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2l5Dtru14g">www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2l5Dtru14g</a>) and the second, a more personal award given to me for my work in bringing the Water Label from a simple idea to the preferred scheme in the EU28. This award was especially gratifying (<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2l5Dtru14g">www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2l5Dtru14g</a>) It’s good to get the feedback and recognition and to know that we are doing it right. The Water Label is here to stay as the preferred scheme throughout Europe.<br />
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The scheme now has 49 registered brands in its database, together with over 3,850 products and a further 4,000 product registrations currently going through the system. Of all the products registered, 30% are WCs, 19% are taps/faucets and 16% bath tubs. A further 30% concern shower fittings, electric showers and shower handsets. Products are registered in 32 countries.<br />
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During the year The Water Label website at <a href="http://www.europeanwaterlabel.eu/">www.europeanwaterlabel.eu</a> was thoroughly overhauled and upgraded making it more user friendly. The upgrade is continuous and we are careful to maintain its usability as the scheme grows. The innovative Product Map introduced in late summer adds an interesting feature to the site. Users can see products listed in their own country. Innovation is key and our web masters are kept busy.<br />
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The year has seen many meetings held both in the UK and in Europe to progress the scheme and to resolve the inevitable difficulties which arise during this rapid growth stage. These meetings have required a lot of input from many people and compromises have been made. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate those taking part who really worked hard to make the scheme a success.<br />
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The British government, though DEFRA (the Department for Environment Food, and Rural Affairs) fully supports the scheme and in July a major conference organised by WRAP (the Waste & Resources Action Programme, which is funded by DEFRA) heard the wonderful news that an agreement had been reached with bathroom retailers, merchants and manufacturers to join forces to further support and promote the label. Supporters include Saint Gobain, Wolseley, Kingfisher, Independent Merchant Association, Home Retail Group, and Travis Perkins.<br />
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Speeches were received from WRAP and the Water Using Products Group which had been tasked with developing wider use of the label. They promised that the label will become more visible across a wide range of products in the stores. This represents a significant step forward for the industry which has been seeking for some time the best way to provide consumers with clear water efficiency information.<br />
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Throughout the year the Water Label has been seen at major exhibitions in Europe. At ISH Frankfurt, the BMA and CEIR jointly promoted the label with a busy display showing to the 123,600 visitors. The Label took pride of place at the Bathroom Business Conference and Exhibition in Chester, England and in the London May Design Series. Elsewhere the label was shown at London’s ECOBuild exhibition and at the Oxford Waterwise Conference. The Water Label also had a presence at the CEIR Annual Congress in Ghent. At each exhibition the specially produced ‘Water is Life’ magazine, which features endorsements by leading figures in the water industry, was greedily taken up as visitors wanted to know more.<br />
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The Water Label has come a long way since its inception but the last twelve months has seen a rapidly growing awareness of the scheme and its benefits. The Label is now poised to grow faster and further and we look forward to 2014.Bathroom Manufacturers Associationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02086140932642033594noreply@blogger.com