Welcome to The kbbreview Podcast, your host is Andy Davies and this episode was recorded LIVE today (June 24, 2025) at the InstallerSHOW 2025.

Today we’re talking about the most important topic of all at the moment – and that’s the health of the kbb independent retailer market after a difficult couple of years.

We did a snapshot survey of retailers a couple of months ago and the results were very mixed. Nearly a quarter said they're more confident than ever about the health of their business, while one in five said they are worried or extremely worried about the future of their business…

Nearly half said they expected the market to get better before the end of the year, but 15% still say they think the market will get worse in 2025.

So what’s going on?

Joining Andy today were top retailers, and friends of the show Trevor Scott from RFK in Rugby; Tina Riley from Modern Homes in Leamington Spa; Luke Wedgbury from Coalville Kitchens in Coalville and Liz Pantling-Jones from Lima Kitchens in Milton Keynes.

We're talking....

• How their business is right now
• How increases in supplier prices are affecting their business
• Whether supplier service levels have dropped as they manage their own costs
• How consumers are behaving and whether they're decision making process continues to drag
• How difficult it is to find good staff - including installers
• How they're tackling the market head on to drive footfall and leads

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Welcome to The kbbreview Podcast, your host is Andy Davies and this is Episode Three of Season 15.

We've got a great interview for you today - Phil Cole, the co-owner of Clive Christian.

Founded in 1978 by Clive, it has become one of the few well-known kitchen brands in the ultra luxury arena - certainly in the traditional style.

It's had it's ups and downs though as we will hear, going into administration in April 2022. That's where the then global sales director Phil Cole bought the company with Jim Denos - the owner of the US operations.

So we'll hear all about that, how the luxury market is performing, what people expect for the kind of costs they deal in, how discretion is a valuable skill, finding skilled artisans, how to keep growing and lots and lots more.

Andy met up with Phil at their flagship London showroom - which is actually a beautiful townhouse in Kensington and sat at a desk in a proper wood-panelled office...

But first….

We're only a WEEK away from the InstallerShow at the NEC where everyday at 1:30 on the Kitchen Of The Future stand we'll be recording a LIVE episode of this very podcast.

• On Tuesday the 24th we'll have a panel of top retailers discussing the health of the market
• On Wednesday 25th we've got some greatest accessible design experts giving us some proper top tips
• On Thursday 26th we're looking at how small to medium, sized KBB showrooms can use social media to grow their business.

So that's 1:30 on the Kitchen Of The Future stand come along listen in, join in or just say hello.

Go to installershow.com to register for your FREE ticket.

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Welcome to another very special bonus episode of The kbbreview Podcast, you host is Andy Davies and today we've got a really interesting conversation with Rob Ginsberg from hib.

Until very recently it was better known as H.I.B and was founded by Rob's father Warren Ginsberg 35 years ago. But it has undergone a major rebrand - and subtle name change - to underline its status as one of the leading accessories suppliers in the bathroom industry.

So new name, new brand, new ranges, new products and new philosophy and strategy all underpinned by decades of heritage, industry knowledge and experience.

And Rob is going to talk us through it all.

You can find out more about them at hib.co.uk

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