Plumbase to launch Ecobase showrooms at Ecobuild

With Ecobuild looming large, many companies are beginning to reveal details of their plans for the exhibition.

Plumbing and heating merchant, Plumbase, is set to launch a series of energy saving solutions showrooms, targeted at both the installer and end consumer at the show.

There will initially be three Ecobase showrooms, with more planned across the Plumbase 200 store portfolio. 

With the Green Deal, Feed-in Tariffs and Renewable Heat Incentive, installers and consumers are being rewarded for introducing greener and more environmentally efficient measures within their properties. Ecobase will help educate the installers in what and how they need to do this to ensure that they are working within these regulations while offering them the best products at the best value for money.

Plumbase managing director, Andy Gribble, said: "There is no doubt that the energy efficiency market should be something which every installer needs to be thinking about and one which is a growing market with consumers becoming more greener and environmentally aware. "However, it is also a minefield with government policy changing constantly and new technologies coming into the market. Ecobase is about being a one-shop-stop for all installers and consumers to come and talk to experts about how to incorporate energy saving technologies within their homes or their businesses and gives them the best solutions. "Ecobase will have the national support of Plumbase but with a regional approach with showroom managers being able to advise on local projects," he said. 

Ecobuild is at Excel, London between March 20-22.

Original article taken from http://www.BuildersMerchantsJournal.net/news/news.asp?id=8383&title=Plumbase+launches+Ecobase+showrooms

Encouraging sales results from Travis Perkins

Builders merchant group Travis Perkins increased sales by 52% in the last financial year, with a corresponding 37% jump in pre-tax profits.

In the year to December 31 2011 pre-tax profits were up to £296.7m from £217.7m while turnover rose to £4,779m from £3,152m.

Like-for-like sales were 6% with the BSS group - acquired for £800m at the end of 2010 - accounting for the rest.

The group expects the construction market to remain subdued this year with a slight dip in construction volumes.

Geoff Cooper, chief executive, said: "2011 was a good year for Travis Perkins. Despite a depressed construction market, we improved services to customers, gained market share, even before the expansion of our network and exceeded our targets from the integration of BSS, continued to outperform our markets, and won further market share.

"This meant we achieved a good set of financial results with improvements in all key figures.

"Having built the UK's largest distributor of building materials, we will be focusing on growing returns.

"With the prospect of the market softening as we go into 2012, the continued improvement in our offer to customers and gains from strategic developments will be the engine of this growth."

Story taken from buildersmerchantjournal.net http://www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net/news/news.asp?id=8368&title=Travis+Perkins+turnover+jumps+52%25

Are you going to kbb? - 5 reasons to attend

Clear your diary for kbb, Britain's biggest and longest running trade event for the kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms industry. There are many reasons why you should not miss this event and here are five!


1. New Products. New Designs. New Technology

Visit kbb to check out the competition, look at new products to meet your customers' needs or visit to help specify your next project.

This year there are over 700 (yes, seven hundred) new designs and technologies on display that will define living spaces in the future. Click here to see who is exhibiting.

2. Seminars that are interesting and beneficial to your business 

kbb is not just about visiting manufacturers' and retailers' stands, it offers visitors much more. Just have a look the seminar timetable - subjects covered include; successful kitchen retailing, the role of the kitchen designer, colour trends, marketing, meeting the needs of the older generation, and how the modern kitchen is actually being used in a practical sense. For more details click here.

3. kbb and sustainability

We have all seen the constant stream of information from the media on why green issues are of vital importance to the construction market, but has the kitchen, bedroom and bathroom sector escaped? Of course not - discover in the Eco "Re-Source Zone" the green options available to exploit and benefit the sustainability cause. 

4. Network & save time - meet the trade press, industry influencers & gain new business contacts

Remember that everything and everyone is in one place at the same time. That is pretty good use of your time and resources!

5. Can you afford to miss out?

kbb is where the industry meets - over 16 000 architects, interior designers, retailers, plumbers, suppliers and merchants visited kbb in 2010. Make sure you are one of them this year. Register here.