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Bathroom Conference 2009 Look what you missed!
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“If you didn’t make it to this year’s bathroom conference you missed the best industry event this year,” says Yvonne Orgill, chief executive of the BMA. “The conference, near Chester, allowed delegates to mix, build business relationships, and learn the very latest in bathrooms. Delegates from all sectors of the industry attended and all, bar none, described it as an outstanding success.”
Expert speakers inspired delegates with thought-provoking presentations.
• Neil Ashbridge from the Bank of England set the scene in assessing our current economic climate and how the future may develop in the coming years. He spoke about the role of the Bank in encouraging the recovery. Confidence, he thought, was beginning to return.
• Kathryn Rathouse, social researcher, has worked with major water suppliers, DEFRA and Waterwise. She spoke about her work with focus groups and talked about her top tips for manufacturers, merchants and retailers in marketing water efficient bathroom products.
1 The easiest way to sell more water efficient fittings is ONLY to sell water efficient fittings.
2 Use the BMA’s Water Efficiency Labels on your products. Look for the label!
3 Let consumers compare live displays of water efficient fittings in your showrooms.
4 Show plumbers your fittings, convince them that they work and give them the incentives to sell them.
5 Show the feedback from consumers who have tried your fittings.
6 Use a feel good icon to communicate the reduced environmental impact of your fittings.
7 Use cutting edge technology and modern designs to break the association between water efficiency and tin baths in from of the fire.
“Water efficiency is currently a low priority amongst consumers since using less seems like going back to the old days. “There is a challenge to make water efficiency the way forward, not backward.”
• Matthew Wright of the Energy Saving Trust wants to create greater partnership between his organisation, the BMA and its “trusted water efficiency label” and Waterwise. He spoke about the link between energy and water saving and the need to get a behavioural change in the population. “We have to get the general populous to commit to water efficiency. He said that his mission in life was to get 60 million in the UK to act on climate change.
• Discussing the bathroom business was Stuart Cross, who has a background in retailing. He got delegates to think about strategy, planning and customer service.
• Alison Wright, a leading interior designer explored the opportunities for consumer choice in all modern homes – whether public or private. “Everyone likes good design – manufacturers need to be multi market.”
• Sally Storey, lighting design expert, thought that bathroom designers were “missing a trick.” Good lighting design can change a room and modern bulbs save energy too.
• Richard Hytner, Deputy Chairman of Satchi and Satchi gave the keynote speech of the day. His high energy and very lively talk inspired delegates to think outside the box to develop bathroom brands which will become loved, exciting and glamorous. He also suggested that manufacturers should begin to embrace the internet and new technology for communicating to customers with emotive messages.
Concluding the day were the very special BMA Awards.
The conference is over for another year but already plans are in hand for the next, in October 2010. “Conference always gives delegates a golden opportunity to meet their peers and the press. Next year’s event will be better still,” says Orgill. “Don’t miss it …”
Further Information
For further information please email info@bathroom-association.org.uk or
telephone 01782 747123 and visit www.bathroom-association.org

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