The kbbreview Podcast

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 in UK kitchen retail backed by German manufacturing giant Nobilia and powered by a loyal network of owner-operators - nearly 40% now run more than one showroom.Recorded at the opening of the brand’s 100th showroom in Beckenham, Barnard reflects on growth, culture and the realities of scaling a franchise business in a tough market. In this episode, we cover:Why reaching 100 showrooms is “huge” for a business that only began franchising in 2015How Kutchenhaus balances freedom and framework to maintain brand consistencyThe secret behind multi-site franchise successWhy Barnard believes “we’re not right for everyone – and not everyone is right for us”The resurgence of franchising across kitchens – and what it means competitivelyInstallation, market headwinds and why the final two weeks of a project define everythingWhat’s next, including expansion into untapped UK territories“Our playbooks aren’t theoretical,” says Barnard. “They’re based on what we know works in the real world.”If you want to understand why franchising is back in fashion – and how one brand has made it work at scale – this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

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 are an enormous global player and their UK operation, established just four years ago, is now ramping up at a massive pace.In particular for kitchen specialists they're building not just the Midea brand itself but also Teka - a brand with loads of heritage that they bought last year and many of you will already know.Lots of you will get your first chance to see what they're all about at kbb Birmingham in March where they are going all in with a big stand so we're really looking forward to seeing what they come up and I'm sure you will too. So, today we're meeting head of marketing Julia Livett and kitchen retail national account manager, Ben Day to get a bit more background on plans, strategies and ambitions and what Midea is all about.You can also find more about Midea at midea.com/uk and you can meet them on stand G80 at kbb Birmingham.This episode is sponsored content

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 the middle, doing a bit of both. We grill them all: Why don’t kitchen retailers sell bathrooms? Why steer clear of kitchens? And what are the real-world pros, cons and commercial realities of doing both?But beneath the playful rivalry lies a serious question for today’s tougher, shifting market: is diversification no longer optional?From utility rooms and media centres to home offices and full interior design, we explore whether expanding your offer is the key to future-proofing your retail business or whether being a true specialist in just one is the answer....

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 over the business from her father.Laila shares how she’s embraced a “learn by doing” approach, from running the studio’s social media and YouTube channel to understanding every aspect of the company’s day-to-day operations. She also reflects on building confidence in front of the camera, expanding her skillset into design, and taking proactive steps to prepare for leading the studio in the future — a fascinating insight into the making of one of KBB retail’s rising stars.

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 possibilities scare them or excite them? From what they know, how could it be useful in their day-to-day business and how urgently do they think they need to learn more?And, probably most importantly, are there any parts of their business where they wouldn’t want AI involved?It's a snapshot of opinions, concerns and revelations from our regulars Trevor, Nick and Liz.And if you're looking for the link to Nick's A.I. Bootcamp course then here it is...Or more nationwide information is available here

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 kitchen and bathroom design judges as they explain why this stage is so important, what they take away from the experience and what their top tips are for anyone who wants to enter next year.As always, a HUGE thank you to our 2026 Awards Podcast Partner, Sonas Bathrooms for all their support.And if you haven't booked your tickets yet for the legendary kbbreview Retail & Design Awards event then get a move on or you'll be too late! It's on March 2nd at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole - that's the Monday night of kbb Birmingham - and you can book directly at kbbreview.com/awards.See you there!

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.Host Andy Davies is joined by regular retailers Trevor, Justine, Nick and Liz, who come armed with their best stories (and by best, we obviously mean the worst). Together, they dig into the reality of constant crisis management: the toll it takes on even the best-laid plans, how much contingency you really need to build into projects, and how to keep clients calm when things start unravelling.If you’ve ever felt like retail is one long emergency, this one’s for you. 🔥

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 shares how her architectural training, attention to detail and hunger to learn helped her transition into bathroom design after relocating to the UK, as well as her role in producing highly technical designs and contributing to the business’s recent rebrand. A brilliant insight into the mindset behind one of the KBB industry’s emerging talents.

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. Design may be the most creative and rewarding part of the job, but does it sometimes get in the way of closing deals, protecting margin, and making the business truly profitable?Joined by regular panelists Trevor Scott, Liz Pantling-Jones, Nick Warrington and Justine Bullock, we're diving into whether sales techniques should carry the same weight as design skills, how creativity can be a genuine sales USP, and whether independents have unfairly distanced themselves from “sales” thanks to the tactics of the multiples.Do some retailers prioritise design theory over commercial reality?How do you measure the true success of a designer?Are time, value and margin are really being managed as well as they should be?Sales or design? The panel gets properly stuck into where the balance really lies.