PODCAST · business
The kbbreview Podcast
by kbbreview, Andrew Davies
Kbbreview has been the leading B2B title for the independent kitchen and bathroom retail market for nearly 40 years and The kbbreview Podcast is a stand-out weekly show for this sector. We cover national industry issues, shopfloor concerns, personal stories and expert views. This is an industry spread right across the UK and our podcast community hears directly from KBB retailers discussing their biggest issues. Whether the highly-engaged audience agrees, disagrees or empathises - hearing the real voices of peers is so important for knowing they’re not alone and are part of a wider industry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
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What is the KBSA for?
Big promises, a new boss and a structural shake-up at the KBSA. New managing director Luke Wedgbury joins Andy Davies to set out his manifesto for change – and explains why he and the board want to give independent retailers compelling new reasons to join while potentially making it harder to get...
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Brochures - sales tools or showroom clutter?
What do retailers actually need from suppliers to help sell their products? This week, kbbreview editor Andy Davies is joined by Trevor Scott from RFK, Steph Warner from Pier One Bathrooms and Nick Warrington from Stuart J Warrington to discuss brochures and the other sales materials suppliers...
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How safe is your stone?
The debate around engineered stone and silica is moving quickly. Australia has banned it, California is considering strict limits and, here in the UK, the HSE is focusing on making sure it is fabricated safely. But what does all this mean for independent kitchen and bathroom retailers? This week,...
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Why doesn't sustainability sell?
Don't scroll past this one! The very fact that you probably rolled your eyes when you saw this episode was about sustainability is at the heart of today's discussion. Climate change is obviously an enormous issue affecting humanity and, as a result, sustainability is one of the biggest talking...
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How Ripples doubled its showroom network in five years
Why is franchising suddenly booming in the KBB industry? Ripples managing director Paul Crow joins Andy Davies to discuss how the bathroom franchise has almost doubled its showroom network in five years – despite an unpredictable retail market where footfall remains under pressure. Paul explains...
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The latest from Lakes
Lakes Showering Spaces is celebrating its 40th anniversary, but rather than simply looking back, Marten Baker joins Andy Davies to talk about how a specialist shower door brand keeps moving forward in one of the most competitive areas of the bathroom market. They discuss the importance of…
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Should you get a second showroom?
If one successful showroom is good, surely two must be better? More customers, more displays, more sales and a bigger business. Simple, right? Well, perhaps not. In this episode of The kbbreview Podcast, our regular panel of independent KBB retailers gets into the realities of opening that...
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What’s your succession plan?
Welcome to The kbbreview Podcast, the show all about the ups and downs and ins and outs of being an independent kitchen and bathroom retailer. This week we’re talking about something that every business owner needs to think about – but probably not enough of them actually do - succession…
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The Government cowboy crackdown...but who protects the KBB retailer?
The Government says it wants to crack down on 'cowboy' traders in the home improvement market– but what does that actually mean for legitimate kitchen and bathroom retailers and installers? In this episode of The kbbreview Podcast, host Andy Davies talks to Trusted Payments founder James Walker...
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Is business ACTUALLY improving?
Season 19 of The kbbreview Podcast is here – and the Fab Four are back! Trevor Scott, Liz Pantling-Jones, Nick Warrington and Steph Warner return after the summer break to answer the simplest question with the most complicated answer: how’s business? From footfall, leads and consumer confidence…
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Peter Dunlop: Building Bathshack
Bathshack started life as an online-only bathroom retailer in 2009. Three years later it opened its first showroom – and discovered something surprising: physical stores actually boosted its online sales. Now, after building a network of 13 showrooms across Ireland and Northern Ireland, founder…
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What's going on at Magnet?
Welcome to The kbbreview Podcast, the show all about the ins and out and ups and down of being an independent kitchen and bathroom retailer. And this is a surprise bonus episode before we officially start our new season in a couple of weeks time as we managed to catch up with Sophie Rose the CEO…
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Resilience 2026: Matt Fowler from Hettich
What really makes a business set to last? Welcome to The kbbreview Podcast, the show all about the ins and outs and ups and downs of being an independent kitchen and bathroom retailer. This is the final episode in a very special bonus series of interviews marking our milestone 500th issue. We...
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Resilience 2026: Julie McLean from Hansgrohe
Resilience 2026: Julie McLean from Hansgrohe What really makes a business set to last? Welcome to The kbbreview Podcast, the show all about the ins and outs and ups and downs of being an independent kitchen and bathroom retailer. This is another in our very special bonus series of interviews...
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Resilience 2026: Dominic Worsley from Aga Rangemaster
What really makes a business set to last? Welcome to The kbbreview Podcast, the show all about the ins and outs and ups and downs of being an independent kitchen and bathroom retailer. This is the latest in a very special bonus series of interviews marking our milestone 500th issue. We published...
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Resilience 2026: Howard Grindrod from Hisense
Resilience 2026: Howard Grindrod from HIsense What really makes a business set to last? Welcome to The kbbreview Podcast, the show all about the ins and outs and ups and downs of being an independent kitchen and bathroom retailer. This is another of our very special bonus series of interviews...
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Resilience 2026: Arthur Leaker from Leaker Direct
What really makes a business set to last? Welcome to The kbbreview Podcast, the show all about the ins and outs and ups and downs of being an independent kitchen and bathroom retailer. This is the latest episode in our special series marking our 500th issue all about resilience and longevity in...
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Resilience 2026: Sven Herden from Rotpunkt
What really makes a business set to last? Welcome to The kbbreview Podcast, the show all about the ins and outs and ups and downs of being an independent kitchen and bathroom retailer. This is the first in a very special bonus series of interviews marking our milestone 500th issue. We published…
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Is your website working hard enough?
Your website is probably the hardest-working member of your team, but is it actually doing the job you need it to? This week, the retailer panel of Trevor Scott, Nick Warrington, Liz Pantling-Jones and Steph Warner tackles one of the biggest investments independent kitchen and bathroom retailers...
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The reinvention of Kitchens International
This week we're talking to Graham Johnston, the new owner and CEO of Kitchens International, following the management buyout that has returned one of Scotland's best-known luxury kitchen retailers to independent ownership. After a career leading customer experience and digital transformation at...
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The new online threat
This week we’re tackling one of the oldest frustrations in independent KBB retail - the battle between the physical showroom and online. For years, retailers have had to deal with customers finding products cheaper online after using the showroom for inspiration, advice and reassurance. But has...
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What keeps you awake at night?
Running an independent KBB business can be hugely rewarding, but it also comes with a level of pressure that customers rarely see. Behind every successful showroom is a business owner juggling cashflow, managing staff, making difficult decisions and carrying the responsibility of keeping the…
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Is the mid-market being squeezed?
Is the traditional independent KBB retailer being squeezed out of the middle? As the likes of Wren, Howdens, DIY Kitchens and Victorian Plumbing continue to push further up the value chain, many independent retailers are finding themselves caught in a tightening gap between volume and luxury. So...
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How to charge for design
Welcome to The kbbreview Podcast, the show all about the ups and downs and ins and outs of being an independent kitchen and bathroom retailer. And today we're talking about the old chestnut of charging for design - it's a seemingly perennial subject but rather than focusing on whether you should…
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How the 2026 Retailers of the Year built award-winning businesses...
What does it really take to become Retailer of the Year at the kbbreview Retail & Design Awards? In this special bonus episode of The kbbreview Podcast, Andy Davies sits down with the 2026 Kitchen and Bathroom Retailers of the Year to uncover the strategies, decisions and mindset behind their...
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What's the best way train new recruits?
Recruiting good people is only half the battle and what happens after they've signed on the dotted line is where the real work begins. In this unofficial part two to last week’s recruitment episode, Andy Davies and the panel tackle the challenge of training and upskilling new showroom staff. From...
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Why is recruitment so difficult?
Recruitment has become one of the biggest challenges facing kitchen and bathroom retailers. From finding skilled, reliable people to managing rising wage bills, National Insurance increases and tougher employment legislation, employing staff has never carried more pressure - or more risk. In this...
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Is the contracts market worth it?
Working with builders, developers and contractors can open the door to bigger projects, repeat business and long-term growth — but it also brings tighter margins, tougher timelines and a whole new way of operating. In this episode of The kbbreview Podcast, our panel shares practical advice on how...
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Is there a ban on using high silica stone?
In this special episode of The kbbreview Podcast, host Andrew Davies speaks exclusively to Mike Calcutt, Deputy Director in the HSE’s Engagement and Policy Division, about the regulator’s major update to its guidance on engineered stone fabrication and silica dust exposure. With silicosis cases...
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Margins: how to protect the profit
Margins matter. But how well do you really understand yours? Our regular panel of retailers - Nick Warrington, Liz Pantling-Jones, Steph Warner and Trevor Scott - gets into the nuts and bolts of profitability and margin. What does a 'healthy' margin actually look like? Is it better to track…
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Are rebates really an incentive?
Welcome to The kbbreview Podcast, the show where we dive into the realities of independent kitchen and bathroom retail. This week, host Andy Davies is joined by our panel of industry retailers to tackle...rebates. Are they a welcome bonus at the end of the year, or a core part of your commercial...
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So….how’s 2026 actually going?
Welcome to The kbbreview Podcast, the show totally dedicated to the world of independent kitchen and bathroom retail. Your host as always is kbbreview editor Andrew Davies and we're back with a brand new season. In this episode we're catching up on business so far in 2026 with our regular team of...
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Interview: Sophie Rose, Magnet
In the final episode of Season 17 of The kbbreview Podcast, we've got an exclusive interview with one of the biggest names in kitchen retail - Magnet. Founded in 1918 in Bingley, Yorkshire, by Tom Duxbury, and famously named after his horse, Magnet has become one of the most recognisable brands…
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The kbbreview Awards 2026 event - Part Two
Welcome to The kbbreview Podcast and it's Part Two of our kbbreview Retail & Design Awards 2026 winners special. Since the launch in September last year we've been doing special bonus episodes of the podcast all about the awards and now, we're at the sharp end, we're at the Hilton Birmingham...
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The kbbreview Awards 2026 event - Part One
Welcome to The kbbreview Podcast and this penultimate special bonus episode all about the kbbreview Retail & Design Awards 2026. And it's all come down to this. Host Matt Baker is at the event itself in the Hilton Birmingham Metropole and it's all happening! As always, these special awards…
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What's your checklist for choosing new suppliers?
We are live at kbb Birmingham 2026! And this is the perfect environment to talk about…. suppliers. In particular, what retailers look for in new suppliers, what questions are they asking, what are the deal breakers, is it all about product or all about terms? Also when you see existing suppliers…
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Celebrating a personal 20 years of the kbbreview Retail & Design Awards
In this special episode of The kbbreview Podcast, host Matt Baker is joined by Managing Editor Andy Davies as they celebrate a huge milestone – Andy’s 20th kbbreview Retail & Design Awards ceremony... From the early days to the present, Andy shares insights into how the awards have evolved, the...
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Interview: Jim Barnard, Kutchenhaus
As Kutchenhaus hits the 100-showroom milestone, we sit down with UK general manager Jim Barnard to unpack one of the most remarkable growth stories in mid-market kitchen retail. From just 10 showrooms in 2015 to a 100 High Street locations a decade later, Kutchenhaus has become a dominant force…
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Interview: Introducing Midea
Welcome to The kbbreview Podcast, I'm Andy Davies and this is a very special bonus episode of the show. Today we're meeting appliance brand Midea and if you're unfamiliar with them you won't be for long. They are, simply, one of the biggest appliance companies in the world. Based in China they…
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Kitchens vs. Bathrooms: Should retailers diversify more?
Welcome to The kbbreview Podcast with Andy Davies – and this week it’s a full-on industry face-off. Kitchens vs bathrooms. Battle lines are drawn. Sides are taken. (Winner… technically undecided.) Trevor and Liz fly the flag for kitchens. Justine stands firm for bathrooms. Nick sits somewhere in...
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BONUS: Rising Star 2026 - Laila Kamiabi
It’s the next special bonus episode of our Rising Star series, in association with Blum. Host George Dean meets Laila Kamiabi, business manager at Haus of Design, who is already gaining hands-on experience across operations, marketing, HR and project management as she prepares to one day take…
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Is A.I. actually useful for independent KBB retailers?
Welcome to The kbbreview Podcast, and yes this week it's the obligatory episode all about A.I. It's the technology that everyone is talking about, and it's very quickly permeating all aspects of our lives but what do our panel of kbb retailers think about it? They may not be experts but do the...
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AWARDS 2026 BONUS: Meet the design category judges
It's another special episode dedicated to the kbbreview Retail & Design Awards 2026! And this time, host Matt Baker is out and about at the judging days for the design categories - where the finalists get to present their shortlisted projects to the judges in person.. So you'll hear from both...
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Firefighting! Dealing with the unexpected problems every retailer faces everyday...
This week on The kbbreview Podcast we're talking about the relentless battle every retailer faces with unexpected problems that pop up at exactly the worst possible moment - when time is tight, pressure is high, and the margin for error is basically zero. Yes, we're all about firefighting today....
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BONUS: Rising Star 2026 - Mariam Susan Joseph
It’s the next special bonus episode of our Rising Star series, in association with our very good friends at Blum. Host George Dean meets Mariam Susan Joseph, a former architect who has risen rapidly through the ranks at Simply Bathrooms, earning two promotions in just her first year. Mariam…
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Do kitchen and bathroom designers think enough about sales skills and techniques?
We all want more sales – but in the world of independent KBB retailing, is “sales” still a dirty word? In this episode, Andy Davies asks whether retailers are too quick to badge themselves as designers rather than salespeople, and whether that mindset is helping or hindering business performance....
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AWARDS 2026 BONUS: Meet the business category judges
In this special bonus episode of The kbbreview Podcast, host Matt Baker goes behind the scenes of judging for the kbbreview Retail & Design Awards 2026, with an exclusive look at what really goes on in the business categories. Sponsored by our awards Podcast Partner 2026 Sonas Bathrooms, this...
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If someone gave you £100,000 for your business, what would you do with it?
Season 17 of The kbbreview Podcast continues with a big question and an even bigger hypothetical. Host Andy Davies is joined by the retailer Fantastic Four for their first episode of 2026 - Trevor Scott from RFK, Liz Pantling-Jones from Lima Kitchens, Nick Warrington from Stuart J Warrington and...
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BONUS: Rising Star 2026 - Amy Hartland
Rising Star Spotlight: Amy Hartland It's the next special bonus episode of our Rising Star series of episodes in association with Blum. Host George Dean meets Amy Hartland, showroom manager at Ashford Kitchens & Interiors Amy’s unplanned route into the KBB industry led to a key leadership role,...
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Interview: Dean Weston from CP Hart
What happens when a mass-market retail heavyweight takes the reins of one of the UK’s most premium bathroom brands? In this episode of The kbbreview Podcast, host Andy Davies sits down with Dean Weston, the new Managing Director of CP Hart, to talk leadership, luxury and life at the top end of…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Kbbreview has been the leading B2B title for the independent kitchen and bathroom retail market for nearly 40 years and The kbbreview Podcast is a stand-out weekly show for this sector.
We cover national industry issues, shopfloor concerns, personal stories and expert views. This is an industry spread right across the UK and our podcast community hears directly from KBB retailers discussing their biggest issues. Whether the highly-engaged audience agrees, disagrees or empathises - hearing the real voices of peers is so important for knowing they’re not alone and are part of a wider industry.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
HOSTED BY
kbbreview, Andrew Davies
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The kbbreview Podcast have?
The kbbreview Podcast currently has 361 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The kbbreview Podcast about?
Kbbreview has been the leading B2B title for the independent kitchen and bathroom retail market for nearly 40 years and The kbbreview Podcast is a stand-out weekly show for this sector. We cover national industry issues, shopfloor concerns, personal stories and expert views. This is an industry...
How often does The kbbreview Podcast release new episodes?
The kbbreview Podcast publishes regularly with 361 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to The kbbreview Podcast?
You can listen to The kbbreview Podcast on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The kbbreview Podcast?
The kbbreview Podcast is created and hosted by kbbreview, Andrew Davies.
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