Comment by Kim Whitmore, Commercial Director, Claygate

 “Borrowing is up, growth is down”, according to the media. This kind of bad news is always good news in the eyes of newspaper and magazine companies. Of course, it brings negativity, but it always fills pages. All the doom and gloom of the condition of today’s economy is unavoidable and understandably we need to be kept updated. However, everyone would naturally prefer to hear of lighter news.

Claygate Distribution Ltd based in Marden has clearly made its mark within the South East and West Country. It has already outgrown its 115,000 sq ft premises, built only three years ago.

Recently, a new facility has been introduced to help Claygate’s staff and merchant trade customers to get to grip with its stock. The Training Room holds a number of products that Claygate sell, displaying them clearly for its customers to see.

With 30 years as a supplier to the UK furniture industry, ECF’s product portfolio is already well-established and comprehensive. ECF’s policy of ongoing product development and innovation serves to ensure its customers have access to the very latest products and designs, keeping them at the forefront of furniture design. 2012 will be no exception with significant new product launches already scheduled for the early part of the year with more to follow.

James Latham continues to bolster its already impressive portfolio of panel products for the bathroom and kitchen sector.

An industry leader in panel products, hardwood, hardwood flooring and joinery quality softwood, the company has probably the most comprehensive product range available in the UK today.

Since the acquisition of Parapan® in September 2011 Landau has gradually integrated the high gloss acrylic into their comprehensive ranges of kitchen doors and accessories.  The flawless, mirror-like reflections of Parapan® and grain/book matched exotic veneers make perfect partners in contemporary kitchens where designers are looking to mix colour and texture.

Sterling’s new range of farmhouse sinks is sure to make an impact in any kitchen with its lavish detailing and traditional looks.

Beautifully crafted and finished, these sinks are now available in two single bowl models measuring 600mm and 800mm in addition to a 1.75 mm bowl (pictured) which measures 1000 mm.

 Ideal Bathrooms has developed a premium brand strategy to complement its strength in the mid-market. Their luxury portfolio is spearheaded by top brands Villeroy & Boch and Bette for which Ideal Bathrooms has sole national distributorship.

“Never has the role of the distributor been more important to the independent kitchen retailer,” says Stephen Joseph of Allied Kingswood.

“2012 is shaping up to be a challenging year for everyone in the kitchen business,” he continues, “and we at Allied Kingswood, as a distributor who specialises in supplying the independent sector, will be the ‘business partner’ who helps them to prosper during tough market conditions.”

Moving just 300 yards, but gaining 21,796 square feet of space, CD (UK) Ltd’s new Leeds premises at Wakefield House couldn’t be more exciting. The extra space means that larger stocks of Corian®, the luxury solid surface material, can be stored and is readily available, making it possible for customers to obtain supplies both quickly and easily.

For the best choice in kitchen and bathroom products, Blackheath Products offers a comprehensive range of work surfaces, sinks and taps, appliances, kitchen furniture, shower enclosures, wall panelling and associated products.  We have over 300 types of work surface to choose from as well as countless upstands, splashbacks and accessories all from stock. 

John Bagshaw, managing director at IDS tells us what’s happening in distribution - We are now past the halfway point in what continues to be a tough trading year for the market. But what makes the difference is the value of relationships. For a retailer, the benefits of supportive working relationships from his suppliers and distributors are vital to his business performance.

Surface materials specialist IDS has become the first distributor in its field to launch Twitter. The site went live mid July with the company tweeting regularly about its extensive portfolio in worktops, flooring, laminates, Showerwall and solid surfacing. IDS has attracted 80 followers so far and based on the initial response is confident of accelerating the number of followers significantly in the coming months.

PWS has extended its kitchen collection with a mix of contemporary and classic designs. Underpinning PWS’ success as a national distributor are core values of service, innovation, quality and design. Product development is the driving force at PWS and coupled with years of experience ensures it stays a step ahead in innovation and all forms of design from contemporary through to traditional.

Bellissimo Furniture has launched a “sawtooth” finish which could mark the start of a major new trend in UK kitchens on the modern rustic theme. This is a more natural treatment of wood than the market has been used to recently. Instead of returning to the heavily knotted look, however, this modern rustic range resembles wood fresh from the sawmill, with strong texture and highly visible, non-linear grain.

Glasen, exclusively distributed in the UK by David Clouting Ltd, is an innovative interior glass film from LG Hausys designed to be laminated onto the back of a glass sheet to provide the ultimate high gloss finish - both in looks and surface performance.

James Latham plc has been importing and distributing timber for over 250 years. An industry leader in panel products, hardwood, hardwood flooring and joinery quality softwood, the company has probably the most comprehensive product range available in the UK today. Through 10 strategically based depots, Lathams has nationwide coverage, and is able to offer its products for prompt collection or delivery within 24-72 hours depending on location.

Ideal Bathrooms is the largest distributor of proprietary branded bathroom products in the UK, with a staff of over 200 all helping to achieve a turnover of over £40 million. The company has a philosophy which is firmly based on excellence of customer service.

F & P Wholesale, the UK’s leading distributor of heating, plumbing, sanitaryware and bathroom products, prides itself upon having the expert knowledge and resources available to meet the needs of specialist bathroom retailers and independent builders’ merchants alike.

Sourcebook is the complete kitchen component distributor stocking a wide range of doors, wirework, handles, drawers, hinges, sinks, taps and lighting totalling over 3000 lines available ex stock. Our core sourcing ability gives us a genuine strength and breadth across key product groups. We are not therefore just a door supplier who sells wirework or drawers as ancillary sales, but a supplier who can supply all key product groups competitively individually or collectively.

Crestwood brings a beautiful and colourful addition to its range of shaker timber doors in the form of the Stamford Painted Collection. Using our standard shaker timber oak door we spray paint it with a choice of 16 standard colours ranging from soft earthy colours to subtle lighter shades. If the choice of 16 colour shades is not enough then choose you own colour!

The NESP name is synonymous with supplying affordable quality brands to customers across the UK. This successful approach is echoed throughout it’s ranges – none more so than in the wide selection of doors available. The Pinnacle range, launched over a decade ago, continues to meet the needs of the budget conscious customer. Whilst this market may not be buying premium products, they are certainly demanding the look of a premium kitchen.

For Allied Kingswood, the independent kitchen specialist is more that just one of many routes to market for the distribution company, it is the reason for the company’s existence. “We are 100 percent committed to supplying the independent kitchen specialist,” explains director Stephen Joseph, “and because we concentrate exclusively on the specialist sector, we are geared up to delivering what I believe is an unparalleled level of service to this sector.”

From humble beginnings NESP has grown to be a major supplier to the UK furniture manufacturing industry. 2011 sees the launch of the new NESP Trade Directory, with over 5000 products available, the NESP range includes much much more than mfc!

For any manufacturer, independent kitchen designer or retailer accessing quality and key components easily and quickly is essential. DK Distribution have set out their stall to provide exactly this service. With a country-wide weekly delivery using their own fleet, DK offer a wide variety of key products.

At a stroke, concave curves have reached the wider UK market thanks to Bellissimo. UK retailers and fitters are at last offered a genuine choice of concave doors in vinyl, now that Bellissimo has launched a range of concave curved options in 50 colours and woodgrains. These are complemented by a similarly comprehensive series of S-shapes.

You may have noticed a number of changes over the last 18 months where leading independent bathroom and sanitaryware products distributor AWA Bathrooms are concerned, with a rebranding being the most noticable. However, some other less obvious changes have also taken place in order to improve the service and delivery that AWA Bathrooms offer.

BCG is the UK’s leading business to business distributor of kitchen, bathroom and heating products to independent merchants and retailers. With over £10million of stock available at any one time and delivery as soon as the next working day across the majority of the UK, the company prides itself in providing excellence through its service and availability to its customers.

January 2011 heralds both the launch of ECF’s new Component Portfolio and the start of its 30th anniversary as a supplier to the UK furniture industry. The 2011 Component Portfolio is ECF’s most comprehensive catalogue to date and features over 1700 stocked products, including all the very latest additions to the range.

Allied Kingswood is one of the pioneers of the one-stop-shop service for independent kitchen retailers and this is reflected in the distributor’s carefully selected product portfolio that covers the bulk of the market kitchen showrooms specialise in.

2010 saw James Latham and HI-MACS enjoy a year of strong performance and high growth, with two months of record sales, a growing team and sights firmly set on new markets for the future.

With June and September last year averaging an increase in sales of over 22% compared to the same period in 2009, the UK’s largest timber and panel products distributor has reached the year’s tough targets with HI-MACS® becoming increasingly favoured by architects in search of design oriented, highly durable material.

Ideal Bathrooms is celebrating 30-years in the bathroom industry. As a pioneer in bathroom distribution, it has achieved longevity and success in an ever changing, fast- paced industry. Constantly working hard to provide the best services possible to retail outlets, Ideal Bathrooms has for many years been the number 1 specialist bathrooms distributor in the UK.

To celebrate its 30th anniversary Ideal Bathrooms has teamed up with 12 key suppliers, offering retailers the chance to win some outstanding prizes and experiences every month throughout 2011 in a VIP prize draw. There are thousands of runners up prizes with fantastic instant win scratch cards and there is no limit to how many times you can enter.

Business for a reputable distributor is all about customer service, client satisfaction and helping to grow your clients business, which in turn helps to achieve longevity and long term profitability.

The products need to be right. Good brands, quality products and readily available stocks. And the service support must be first class at every stage especially with prompt, reliable deliveries. If the basics are right, your customers will be loyal because it’s in their best interests.

Surface materials distributor IDS has won a prestigious RoSPA (Royal Society for the Preventions of Accidents) Occupational Health and Safety Award at a ceremony coinciding with the Safety & Health Expo, Europe’s leading annual health and safety exhibition.

Based in West Yorkshire, CD UK are distributors of Parapan®, Corian®, Alulux doors, Fontana sinks and Air Uno cooker hoods.

The clean lines of a top-end European kitchen are now within reach of a wider audience thanks to Bellissimo’s genuinely handle-free Treviso range in 50 solid colour and woodgrain foils.

Sourcebook is the complete kitchen component distributor stocking a wide range of doors, wirework, handles, drawers, hinges, sinks, taps and lighting.

Over the last twenty years, Maurice Lay has developed its popular Caple brand by expanding its range of appliances, sinks and taps, and furniture, to meet the rising expectations of modern consumers. Consistently growing and nurturing this brand, a constant release of ground-breaking products into the UK market such as state-of-the-art appliances, printed splashbacks and contemporary kitchens, has significantly raised its profile.

North East Sheets & Panel’s reputation as a supplier of quality products has grown through 12 successful years of trading. Developing from a small local supplier to a major regional supplier (with a growing band of nationwide customers) speaks for itself.

Allied Kingswood offers a number of complete kitchen solutions plus dedicated bedroom and bathroom products for the independent KBB retailer from distribution centres in London, the Midlands, the North East and the North West.

James Latham and LG Hausys recently signed a further five-year exclusive UK (excluding Ireland) deal for the distribution of LG’s solid surface HI-MACS® natural acrylic stone. The companies have already achieved an impressive and continuous growth during the last period.

For any manufacturer, independent kitchen designer or retailer accessing quality and key components easily and quickly is essential. DK Distribution have set out their stall to provide exactly this service. With a country-wide weekly delivery using their own fleet, DK offer a wide variety of key products.

Zenolite is a high gloss acrylic decorative panel that offers an eco-friendly, tough and lightweight alternative to more traditional interior surface materials such as back-painted glass, ceramic, aluminium and wood.

Ideal Bathrooms has designed a point of sale storage unit which, for a limited period of time, is free with every order for six Essential straight towel warmers. The unit is attractive, promotes the 5-year guarantee and also shows customers that there is stock readily available.

Ideal Bathrooms has increased staff to front its sales office, the number of vehicles in its fleet and delivery routes - in order to guarantee meeting the standards customers expect.

In an Ideal Bathrooms survey, just over 2-years ago, 59% of respondents said they would purchase a new bathroom suite from a bathroom retailer or showroom compared to just 9% from the Internet. During the short period of time since then, the Internet has become a real threat to retailers. Whilst at present, this is mainly for smaller boxed items, which are easy to package and handle, such as taps and shower kits, it is highly likely that these Internet traders will soon be selling complete bathrooms.