The first kbb London, the capital’s only trade show dedicated to the kitchen, bedroom and bathroom industry, stunned its critics and welcomed more than 6,000* people at the ExCeL London last week. The event was a resounding success, gathering together the industry’s leading figures for three days of business and professional networking.
124 companies presented their latest products across five halls. A multitude of retailers, specifiers, architects, interior designers, property developers and local authorities effectively sourced products from a wide array of exhibitors, a number of which were reporting to have had a fantastic show.
David Verhoogt Head of Sales at StoneKAST commented: “kbb provided the ideal show to launch the StoneKAST brand in the UK. With a great mix of UK and internationally based company’s attending kbb London, we were able to generate some promising sales leads which have since been converted into business. The planning and support from the kbb team was impeccable and we will definitely be at the next show.”
Steve Cole, Managing Director of Perrin & Rowe noted: “This show is all about innovation and not duplication. And for us that makes it perfect.”
V-Zug’s Sales & Marketing Director Kevin John commented: “Our target was to meet over the whole show 10 potential new showroom display dealers. We made that in first day. We also had a number of architects and interior designers, people we did not expect to see here. And we had two potential huge developers coming to the stand with serious contract enquiries.”
kbb Brand Director Andy Vaughan commented on the event’s positive outcome: “We’re extremely pleased with the show’s results. The event has been tremendously beneficial for the kbb industry at large and the feedback we’ve had to this event is incredibly encouraging. kbb London’s theme was innovation and we delivered that with everything from our feature areas to our exhibitors, so I am confident that the future of kbb London is very bright indeed. I’d like to thank the industry for its support and look forward to the next kbb London in 2013.”
The innovation theme ran throughout the show, with award-winning furniture and interior designer Rock Galpin unveiling his collaboration with Central Saint Martins students, the Future Bathroom 2020 installation. The range of highly innovative new bathroom product prototypes included a walk-in body dryer; an intelligent mirror that informs you of your state of health and well-being; twin baths for social bathing; bath water that recycles into the cistern. Rock was also on hand to launch the kbb Student Design Awards, which aims to highlight and promote the UK’s ever increasing design talent to be found throughout the UK’s design colleges and universities, and to award students who excel in the development of new KBB products.
The Room feature area proved to be a real showstopper: a luxurious and stunning bespoke environment showcasing the most sumptuous and amazing bathroom products, all of which were beautifully and creatively designed to provide an exceptional point of inspiration. Custom-designed room sets from Armani/Roca, Drummonds, BC Designs, Roca, VitrA, Impey and Laufen were a true example of innovation at its finest.
The Innovation Centre was a big hit with visitors, presenting the latest in innovative products from the KBB industry. A prestigious panel of judges led by Martin Allen-Smith of Designer magazine awarded De Dietrich’s ‘Piano’ Induction hob as their Judges choice, while S-Box and Fisher & Paykel picked up Visitor’s Choice and Online Choice respectively.
A programme of free seminars, including an afternoon with BD Magazine and the Sustainable Regulation & Residential Design conference by Building Magazine also proved to be huge draws, with many packed sessions full of visitors eager to hear the latest industry trends and discuss key topics.
The kbbreview Industry Awards, which ran alongside kbb London, were also a great success. The awards were presented by comedian Alun Cochrane and celebrated the best of the KBB industry.
For daily industry news and show updates, follow kbb London on Twitter at @kbbevents and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/kbbevents.
