Today, Tom Reynolds, chief executive of the Bathroom Manufacturers Association gives his comments on the state of play for the bathroom sector.

Following the turbulence of the last couple of years, we could be forgiven for being uneasy about the future. We are currently dealing with an exceptional economic landscape. Inflationary pressure is creating a surge in costs across the board, and business input and factory gate prices are soaring. In fact, they have been increasing for more than a year now, as a direct result of the pandemic and its associated supply chain problems.

In these kinds of circumstances, businesses pass the costs on, review their suppliers, reassess investment plans or embed efficiencies in their operations.

Economically, this is a high-risk place, with commentators saying it will impact consumer confidence and weaken our economy.

In the bathroom sector, having successfully bounced back from the pandemic lockdowns, we enjoyed a strong year in 2021, with record-breaking sales.

So far, 2022 has brought more positive news, with steady increases in total sales of BMA members in the first quarter.

And the latest sentiment from builders’ merchants about the prospects for 2022 are also positive. The Pulse, a monthly tracking survey of merchants’ confidence, produced by MRA Research, found that supply problems are easing.

April’s results show nearly one in two merchants expect sales to grow by 46% in the next three months, April to June, compared to the previous three, with 36% expecting sales to increase by up to 9%. A further two in three expect sales to grow by more than that.

Our industry has a track record of resilience, innovation and success. Whatever way you look at it, this is a seminal moment for business leaders across the UK, and in the bathroom sector we are in a strong position to move forward with confidence.

There has never been a more important time to improve our sustainability, embrace change, and create the energy and water efficient bathrooms the UK desperately needs.

The scale of the challenge means it requires a collective commitment, setting the tone for our upcoming BMA Conference.

The annual event for manufacturers, distributors, retailers, architects and designers, has been sorely missed in the last two years.

The 2022 theme, ‘Sustainability for the Sector’ and will focus on the climate crisis, setting a sectoral course for the years and decades ahead.

BMA members know we must re-write the rule book and overhaul business models and strategies. With renewed focus on decarbonising and innovating, we can redefine how people think about their bathrooms, and align with the new priorities of the nation.   

According to the organiser Fiera Valencia, it was “unfeasible” to run the event in June 2022  in Valencia, Spain, so it has been moved from February 27 to March 3, 2023.

The exhibition had already been put back from its original February dates to June because of the resurgence of Covid, but the rise in gas prices plus difficulties getting raw materials as a result of the war in Ukraine (which has seen prices of gas spike) has meant stoppages in production and adjustments to the workforce for ceramic manufacturers.

In a press statement, it said the reason for the cancellation was “because of the critical situation currently being experienced by the ceramic industry, which is facing huge uncertainty and unpredictable outcomes following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.”

In addition to the increased costs of energy, further complicating the situation, the majority of clay reportedly comes from Ukraine and Russia and it is recorded as the 12^th largest export market for Spanish ceramics last year.

Despite 25% more visitors having pre-registered for the show than in previous years, the number of exhibitors that pulled out of the event meant it was no longer commercially viable for it to take place.

Director of Cevisama Carmen Alvarez said: “We are very sorry for the problems that cancellation may cause, but what we have is an emergency situation that has arisen and that is preventing us from going ahead with the industry’s grand re-grouping we were so looking forward to.

“We do not want to let down the trade visitors who come every year from all over the world.”

Courtyard by Marriott has announced the opening of Courtyard by Marriott Exeter Sandy Park, the first Courtyard by Marriott hotel in the South West of England.

The 250-guestroom hotel is set in a distinctive location in the vibrant city of Exeter, offering convenient access to Sandy Park Conference & Banqueting Centre. Renowned for its beautiful surroundings and easy access to the coast, Exeter is an attractive destination offering a rich cultural and art scene.

The hotel’s modern interiors, complete with timber walls and blue hues, create a welcoming ambiance, and the artwork and carpet design are a nod to the hotel’s famous neighbour, the Exeter Chiefs rugby club. Guests have three dining outlets to choose from managed by Executive Chef, Richard Hunt.

The Kitchen & Bar is an all-day dining venue offering international comfort dishes cooked with the very best of local produce, accompanied by local craft beers and spirits. The View restaurant, opening this May, is located on the top floor of the hotel with unbeatable, panoramic views of Devon’s countryside and coastline. Local produce will take pride of place on the menu with the finest local seafood, meat and vegetables. The Match Day Bar opens its doors on match days, perfect for gathering for a pre or post-match beverage.

The hotel also offers three flexible meeting and events spaces, a 24-hour gym and a car park with electric-car charging ports

It can be quite hard to get excited about a macerator. To most people, it’s just a white box that pumps away black water waste from a WC. Saniflo – the original inventor and leading manufacturer of the humble macerator – is dispelling this belief with its new, striking advertising campaign designed to stimulate ideas and boost sales for trade customers.

Saniflo emphasizes that when you consider the possibilities that a small white box affords, it can open up a whole new mindset to converting unused spaces:

• Bathroom in an unused attic? It’s possible with a Saniflo.
• Laundry in a cellar? Also, possible.
• En-suite in the loft? A breeze.

The point is that when gravity drainage isn’t an option, a Saniflo usually is. So, for domestic and commercial customers this new, striking advertising campaign might just be the nudge they need to grasp what’s possible.

Ann Boardman is Head of Marketing and Product Management at Saniflo and was responsible for overseeing the concept. To test the idea, the graphics were used at the Homebuilding and Renovating Show at the NEC In Birmingham.

Ann says: “The new advertising campaign is a step in a different direction for us, as we really wanted to challenge perceptions and stimulate customers’ ideas of how to transform their spare spaces. We know what a Saniflo can help achieve, but we wanted to convey this to customers in a visually appealing manner. Feedback at the show absolutely vindicated the change and we are now rolling out the ads in the press, on social media and on future show stands and we encourage our customers to watch out for the ads and share them with their customers.”