Welcome to the latest of our special awards episodes of The kbbreview Podcast all about the kbbreview Retail & Design Awards 2025.

Last month, right before the festive break, we announced the shortlist and so today we’re talking to some of those finalists to hear a little bit about why they entered and what it means to them ahead of the second stage of judging.

We have for New Kitchen Retailer Of The Year finalists Andy Barwell from Turnwell Kitchens in Chichester and a finalist in not one, not two, but all three of the bathroom design categories, Sophie Harrold from Simply Bathrooms in Surbiton.

Before that, a huge thank you needs to go out to our awards podcast partner, Sonas Bathrooms - it’s great to have their continued support, as between now and the event on Thursday, April 24, at the Blackpool Tower Ballroom we'll be bringing you MORE special bonus episodes, all about the awards, and celebrate the very best talent our industry has to offer.

You can find out everything you need to know about our awards podcast sponsor at sonasbathrooms.co.uk.

Don't forget that there are still tickets left for the industry’s biggest awards. Just think, if you had the chance to spend quality time in a room full of the UK’s most successful independent kitchen and bathroom retailers, what opportunities could you create for yourself and your company?

Whether it’s to represent your brand, entertain key clients, network with industry leaders and influencers, leverage social media to showcase your attendance and amplify your visibility, or simply to have fun and support independent retail after a year of ups and downs – you can book your place by going to kbbreview.com/awards.

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Welcome to the very special episode of The kbbreview Podcast where we will reveal the full shortlist for the kbbreview Retail & Design Awards 2025.

Your hosts are kbbreview's Matt Baker and Andrew Davies and they will exclusively announce who the finalists are for all our design and retail categories. YOU won't get this list anywhere else until next week so don't miss it!

Huge thanks to our Awards Podcast Partner for 2025 Sonas Bathrooms, we couldn't do these special awards episodes without their support.

The gala black tie event where we announce the winners is on Thursday, April 24 at the iconic Tower Ballroom in Blackpool. If you want to be at the biggest KBB party of the year then book your tickets now as there is a limited capacity.

You can find out all you need to know about the kbbreview Retail & Design Awards 2025 at our website kbbreview.com/awards including how to book your seats and tables.

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Welcome to The kbbreview Podcast, your host is editor-at-large Rebecca Nottingham for another of our very special Rising Star episodes where we meet the upcoming superstars of kitchen and bathroom retail.

Between August 2024 and March 2025 we’ll be picking a monthly Rising Star to feature in the magazine, online and this very podcast. Those eight monthly winners then become the shortlist for the overall winner which will be revealed at the kbbreview Retail & Design Awards 2025 in April.

It's done with the support of our very good friends at Blum and you can find out more about them at blum.com

There are only two rules:

They must be currently employed by a retailer - which we're defining as a company that sells direct to the consumer.

AND

They must be under 30 years of age on March the 4th, 2025.

So here's our Rising Star for December, Izzy Huxford. She's a hugely impressive bathroom designer from Wilton Studios in Grimsby demonstrating real drive and passion - exactly what the Rising Star is all about…

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Welcome to The kbbreview Podcast and another of our very special Insights mini-series looking ahead to 2025. Your host is Andy Davies and we've partnered up with some key kitchen and bathroom brands to get their take on 2024 as it draws to a close AND their views on how the market might shape up in 2025.

Where are the opportunities? Where is the growth? What might be the pitfalls? And where is the focus for them?

It's an invaluable peak into the 2025 plans, ambitions and goals of some of the sector's most dynamic brands.

Today we're meeting Andrew Laidler, the UK and Ireland Sales and Marketing Director for for EGGER. They're about as big a name as it's possible to get in this market so hearing Andrew's view and thoughts on what 2025 might bring couldn't be more relevant.

You can find out everything you need to know about EGGER at egger.com.

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Welcome to The kbbreview Podcast and another of our very special Insights mini-series looking ahead to 2025. Your host is Andy Davies and we've partnered up with some key kitchen and bathroom brands to get their take on 2024 as it draws to a close AND their views on how the market might shape up in 2025.

Where are the opportunities? Where is the growth? What might be the pitfalls? And where is the focus for them?

It's an invaluable peak into the 2025 plans, ambitions and goals of some of the sector's most dynamic brands.

Today we're meeting Jon Thelwell, the sales and marketing director for family-owned British furniture manufacturer JJO. It's a big name with a big history with independent retailers so Jon's views on 2025 are invaluable so don't miss it.

You can find out everything you need to know about JJO at jjoplc.com

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Welcome to The kbbreview Podcast and another of our very special Insights mini-series looking ahead to 2025. I'm Andy Davies and we've partnered up with some key kitchen and bathroom brands to get their take on 2024 as it draws to a close AND their views on how the market might shape up in 2025.

Where are the opportunities? Where is the growth? What might be the pitfalls? And where is the focus for them?

It's an invaluable peak into the 2025 plans, ambitions and goals of some of the sector's most dynamic brands.

Today we're meeting Dean Williams, the managing director for sinks, taps, and accessories supplier The 1810 Company. They're a big name in the UK independent retail market so Dean's views on what 2025 might hold are about as relevant as it gets.

You can find out everything you need to know about The 1810 Company at the1810company.co.uk, and that link is in the episode description.

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Welcome to The kbbreview Podcast and another of our very special Insights mini-series looking ahead to 2025. We've partnered up with some key kitchen and bathroom brands to get their take on 2024 as it draws to a close AND their views on how the market might shape up in 2025.

Where are the opportunities? Where is the growth? What might be the pitfalls? And where is the focus for them?

It's an invaluable peak into the 2025 plans, ambitions and goals of some of the sector's most dynamic brands.

Today we're meeting Neal Jones, the managing director of Blanco in the UK. They're one of the biggest names in the sector so Neal's view on the market is about as relevant as it gets when it comes to forecasting what 2025 might bring so you don't want to miss this one.

You can find out everything you need to know about Blanco at blanco.co.uk

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Welcome to The kbbreview Podcast and the first episode of this very special Insights mini-series looking ahead to 2025. We've partnered up with some key kitchen and bathroom brands to get their take on 2024 as it draws to a close AND their views on how the market might shape up in 2025.

Where are the opportunities? Where is the growth? What might be the pitfalls? And where is the focus for them?

It's an invaluable peak into the 2025 plans, ambitions and goals of some of the sector's most dynamic brands.

We've got episodes coming out every day this week and we're starting today with ARMERA.

ARMERA has an extensive coordinated bathroom portfolio that brings affordable luxury with a real detail in the design and you can find out all about them at armera.co.uk.

They're a very exciting company to watch in this market and we'll be hearing their views on 2025 from joint managing director Sarah Williams.

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