Recently starting his new position as National Sales Manager Retail & Merchant at Coram UK, Gary Major spoke with PBM to offer his views on the K&B sector.
Q: You have a wealth of experience in the bathroom sector. Can you talk about your background, including how you got into the industry?
A: I started my career as an estimator at Travis Perkins many years ago; that’s when I was bitten by the bug. They say that once you’re in the industry, it’s hard to leave, and that’s certainly been my experience. As my career progressed, I went on to work for Roman in their early days.
The bathroom industry offers excellent opportunities for so many individuals and personality types and I have enjoyed all the elements; combining design flair, commercial engagement and product innovation.
My career has been split between manufacture and retail; I have seen both sides and that has led to an understanding of the challenges and the goals for many businesses.
Q: What is your role at Coram UK and what drew you to the company/ brands?
A: I am proud to be the new National Sales Manager, Retail and Merchant. Coram UK is very well respected, and a leader in the market. I have been aware of Coram UK and its brands, Impey, Coram Showers, Geesa, Tiger and Sealskin, for a long time. As a family owned business, there is an excellent, close knit ethos across all of the brands and I have been made to feel incredibly welcome.
Many retailers have a longstanding and close relationship with the Coram UK brands and it is a well-liked and well respected business. I am excited to see what the future holds.
Q: What are you most looking forward to in your new role?
A: I am looking forward to getting out and meeting our customer base, offering knowledge, understanding, and commercial guidance. I very much enjoy being customer facing. I am also keen to offer support to the Coram UK team whether with strategy, meetings or customer engagement.
I love to help individuals and businesses thrive and reach their goals. I am genuinely looking forward to getting to know the team, getting in front of customers old and new and being able to help deliver clarity in our sales channels and product portfolios, so that our customers can provide the very best solutions to their customers.
Q: Which products from the comprehensive Coram UK portfolio have caught your eye and why?
A: Definitely our Aqua-Dec Linear wetroom floor formers, particularly the new Aqua-Dec Linear 1, which is perfectly suited to large format tiles. It’s our latest market offering and is the ideal wetroom floor option to complete our floor former collection.
In addition I have been impressed by the opportunities available with the Coram Showers enclosure range and the Sealskin duka shower enclosure collection, which is an excellent high-quality option and is proving particularly popular with designers and specifiers.
Q: And what are your thoughts about the K&B sector as a whole currently?
A: The market is recovering from recession and key to success for retailers is attracting the right customers into their showrooms and specifying high profile projects. Impey’s wetroom offering is leading a growing market and the wetroom concept is highly desirable and also adaptable.
To attract and inspire a good customer base, a showroom needs to offer high quality and contemporary showering solutions; which is why Impey and also the Sealskin duka collection are proving to be an excellent choice for many retailers.
Q: Finally, what focus areas do you feel are most important to manufacturers such as Coram at the moment?
A: In terms of sustainability, a lot of effort has been put into ensuring our UK manufacturing operation is as sustainable as possible. The team has ensured that they have continuously monitored and improved environmental objectives and targets.
At the manufacturing site, business-wide recycling (over 50 tonnes in 2023), removal of plastic packaging and a full overhaul of packaging methods and products have all been introduced to contribute to a more sustainable operation.
Plus a business wide replacement of staff vehicles with electric / hybrid, energy efficient lighting changes and assessment of IT protocols to save energy have all contributed towards lowering the businesses carbon footprint.
In addition, there are not many manufacturers who have a product which is designed, manufactured and distributed in the UK; I feel that it’s something to be incredibly proud of.
For more information on the products and support services available from Coram, visit www.coram.co.uk
