The kbbreview Podcast

Resilience 2026: Julie McLean from HansgroheWhat 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 marking our milestone 500th issue.We published our first issue in 1984 and since then we've brought retailers the latest news, big interviews, unwavering opinions, valuable advice, deep analysis and product insightsThis longevity is not by accident, we are as buffeted by the uncertain and unpredictable market as much as anyone, and our heritage is built as much on resilience as it is by quality.And this is what we want to explore in this series - we're talking to some of the industry's leading suppliers about THEIR resilience, history, continuity and investments in the future.In this episode, we're meeting Julie McLean from one of the biggest names in bathrooms - Hansgrohe....This episode is commercial content

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 our first issue in 1984 and since then we've brought retailers the latest news, big interviews, unwavering opinions, valuable advice, deep analysis and product insightsThis longevity is not by accident, we are as buffeted by the uncertain and unpredictable market as much as anyone, and our heritage is built as much on resilience as it is by quality.And this is what we want to explore in this series - we're talking to some of the industry's leading suppliers about THEIR resilience, history, continuity and investments in the future.When it comes to heritage it doesn't much longer than Aga Rangemaster and in this episode we're talking to Group Managing Director Dominic Worsley...This episode is commercial content

Resilience 2026: Howard Grindrod from HIsenseWhat 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 marking our milestone 500th issue.We published our first issue in 1984 and since then we've brought retailers the latest news, big interviews, unwavering opinions, valuable advice, deep analysis and product insightsThis longevity is not by accident, we are as buffeted by the uncertain and unpredictable market as much as anyone, and our heritage is built as much on resilience as it is by quality.And this is what we want to explore in this series - we're talking to some of the industry's leading suppliers about THEIR resilience, history, continuity and investments in the future.In this episode, we're meeting Howard Grindrod from one of the biggest appliance brands and manufacturers in the world - Hisense.This episode is commercial content

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 businessWe published our first issue in 1984 and since then we've brought retailers the latest news, big interviews, unwavering opinions, valuable advice, deep analysis and product insightsThis longevity is not by accident, we are as buffeted by the uncertain and unpredictable market as much as anyone, and our heritage is built as much on resilience as it is by quality.And this is what we want to explore in this series - we're talking to some of the industry's leading suppliers about THEIR resilience, history, continuity and investments in the future.In this episode we're talking about one of the most interesting sectors in this industry - distribution - with Arthur Leaker from from Leaker Direct...This episode is commercial content

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 our first issue in 1984 and since then we've brought retailers the latest news, big interviews, unwavering opinions, valuable advice, deep analysis and product insightsThis longevity is not by accident, we are as buffeted by the uncertain and unpredictable market as much as anyone, and our heritage is built as much on resilience as it is by quality.And this is what we want to explore in this series - we're talking to some of the industry's leading suppliers about THEIR resilience, history, continuity and investments in the future.We're starting with Sven Herden, the managing director of sales and marketing for German kitchen furniture giant Rotpunkt - a family owned company that's been around for more than 90 years…This episode is commercial content

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 make: their website. From first impressions and case studies to pricing, lead generation and analytics, they discuss what a modern website should really be doing in 2026.As AI search starts to change the way consumers find local businesses, the panel explores how they're adapting their websites for ChatGPT and Google's AI results, whether SEO still matters, why they're all rebuilding or refreshing their sites, and the surprising lessons they've learned from asking AI to critique their own businesses.Plus, should you publish your prices? Are blogs still worth writing? What content actually generates enquiries? And how do you measure whether your website is bringing in genuine customers or simply costing you money?This is the last episode of the current season as we head into the summer break. We'll be back at the start of September but, to tide you over, look out for a special series of episodes in August marking the milestone 500th issue of kbbreview.

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 companies including Three, Optical Express and Asda, Graham explains why he believes the future of kitchen retail still revolves around great designers and inspiring showrooms, even as AI begins to reshape the customer journey. We discuss why he's investing in three new locations despite a challenging market, how he's blending ideas from outside the KBB industry with a design-led retail business, why he's assembled an advisory board to challenge his thinking, and what the next generation of independent retailers needs to do to stay relevant.It's a conversation about leadership, innovation, customer experience and why, sometimes, the best way to move a business forward is to take it back to its roots.

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 that problem changed? Have selective distribution agreements helped level the playing field? And are bathrooms now facing the same pain kitchens had with appliances a decade ago?Trevor, Steph, Nick and Liz get into the realities of online price comparisons, direct-selling suppliers, DIY Kitchens, Victorian Plumbing, worktops, taps, tiles, flooring and the growing sense that the biggest online threat may no longer just be cheaper products, but the whole project being pulled away from the independent showroom by AI...As consumers increasingly ask ChatGPT, Gemini or Claude where to buy a kitchen or bathroom, how do independents make sure they’re still part of the answer?A sharp, practical and slightly alarming discussion about where online competition really sits in 2026, and where the next battleground might be.

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 whole operation moving forward.In this episode we're talking openly about the worries and concerns that come with business ownership. From cash flow, clients and constant niggles to the challenge of planning for the future, we explore the issues that weigh most heavily on retailers' minds, and those new ideas that just won't stop buzzing around until you've written them down at 3am.We also ask who do business owners actually talk to when the pressure starts to build? Running a business can be surprisingly lonely. As the person everyone else looks to for answers, where do you go when you need advice, reassurance or simply someone who understands? Is it your business partner, your spouse, fellow retailers, a mentor or do you keep it all to yourself?Beyond the business itself, we discuss the personal side of ownership. How do you cope with the mental load of always being 'on'? Can you ever truly switch off? And how do you stop the pressures of running a business from spilling over into family life?The regular panel of Trevor Scott, Liz Pantling-Jones, Steph Warner and Nick Warrington share their own experiences of dealing with stress, making tough decisions and finding ways to maintain perspective when the responsibility feels overwhelming. They also reveal the habits, routines and mindset that help them stay resilient, offering practical insights for anyone navigating the highs and lows of running their own business.Whether you've ever lain awake worrying about payroll, a difficult customer, the state of the market or simply wondering if everyone else feels the same way, this is an honest, relatable and reassuring conversation about the realities of business ownership and why sometimes the most important thing you can do is talk about it.