TECE Appoints Ashley Shires as UK Managing Director UK: German sanitary solutions manufacturer TECE has announced the appointment of Ashley Shires as its new UK managing director, effective 21 September 2026. Shires has more than 40 years of experience in the bathroom industry, including 14 years as managing director of SIAMP. His career has included work with UK and international bathroom manufacturers, with experience in commercial strategy and business development. Comment

Hib Joins Commercial Interiors UK UK: Bathroom specialist hib has joined Commercial Interiors UK, the UK trade association for the commercial interiors sector, to develop industry partnerships and expand its presence in commercial markets. Commercial Interiors UK represents more than 200 accredited manufacturers and suppliers across areas including furniture, lighting, fabrics, flooring, bathroom fittings and other interior products, serving sectors such as hospitality, workp

Siamp UK Appoints Alex Holcroft as Managing Director UK: Siamp UK has appointed Alex Holcroft as managing director, effective 1 September 2026. Holcroft has experience across sales, commercial management, product development and go-to-market strategy within the UK kitchen and bathroom industry. He previously worked at Siamp UK as product manager from 2017 to 2019 and later served as sales director at Woodland Furniture Group, where he was involved in customer acquisition, pro

Neptune to Open Showroom at Fenwick Newcastle UK: British home and lifestyle brand Neptune will open a 4,000 sq ft showroom at Fenwick Newcastle in October 2026. The opening will mark Neptune’s first store within a department store and Fenwick Newcastle’s largest concession to date. The showroom will feature room sets covering living, dining, kitchen and bedroom spaces, along with a Design Library offering materials, colours, fabrics and finishes. An in-house design service w

Ideal Bathrooms Joins Bathroom Association UK: Ideal Bathrooms has joined the Bathroom Association as a new member, adding a distributor perspective to the trade association’s membership. The company has supported the UK bathroom market for more than 40 years and supplies more than 20,000-bathroom products across categories including showering, brassware, furniture, ceramics, heating and accessories. The association said the membership will bring insight into product demand,

SCGD Unveils Five-Year Growth Plan, Targets US$136 Million EBITDA by 2031 THAILAND: SCG Decor Public Company Limited has unveiled a five-year growth strategy targeting Baht 4.5 billion (~US$136.1 million) in EBITDA and a twofold increase in EPS by 2031. The company plans to expand beyond tiles and sanitaryware into products such as SPC flooring, smart toilets, doors and windows, and kitchen and bathroom furniture, with sales from new product categories growing more than 90% o

Koçtaş Joins International DIY Association Edra/Ghin TURKEY: Turkish home improvement retailer Koçtaş has joined the international DIY association Edra/Ghin, strengthening its presence within the global home improvement network. Founded in 1955 as a wholesale business, Koçtaş opened its first retail store in İzmir in 1996 and began expanding nationwide in 1998. The company has operated as a joint venture between Turkish conglomerate Koç Holding and UK-based Kingfisher since 2

BMS Holdings Expands Northern Malaysia Reach Through Penang Joint Venture MALAYSIA: Malaysia’s BMS Holdings Bhd plans to establish a 60:40 joint venture with the shareholders of Penang-based Wee Tatt Traders Sdn Bhd to expand its tile and building materials distribution network across the northern states. The proposed JV, Jubin BMS (Wee Tatt) Sdn Bhd, will distribute tiles, ceramic and porcelain products, sanitary ware and other building materials. BMS will contribute RM3 mil

EU Commission Proposes New Framework to Tackle Housing Crisis EUROPE: The European Commission has proposed new legislation aimed at helping EU member states and cities address housing affordability and availability challenges. The framework would establish common rules for housing-related measures while leaving housing policy decisions to national and local authorities. It would provide clearer guidelines for restricting short-term rentals, second homes and long-term vacant p

Watsco to Acquire the Granite Group, Expanding Plumbing and HVAC Distribution USA: Watsco has agreed to acquire The Granite Group, a distributor of plumbing and HVAC products with ~US$500 million in annual sales across seven Northeastern US states. The acquisition will add 82 locations to Watsco’s growing plumbing distribution network and further strengthen its presence in the fragmented North American HVAC market. The Granite Group serves residential, commercial and industri

USA Finalises High Duties on Solar Imports from India, Indonesia and Laos USA: The US Commerce Department has finalised steep anti-dumping and countervailing duties on solar cells and panels imported from India, Indonesia and Laos, citing unfair pricing and government subsidies. Anti-dumping duties were set at 123.04% for Indian producers, 94.36% for Indonesian producers and 65.43% for Lao producers, while countervailing duties vary by producer and country. The investigation

China Home Prices Remain Weak, Weighing on Economic Growth CHINA: China’s housing market continued to face pressure in August, with new home prices declining 0.1% month-on-month, marking a third consecutive monthly fall. The annual decline narrowed to 3.0% from 3.2% in July, while prices in tier-one cities increased 0.1%, contrasting with declines in tier-two and tier-three markets. Despite signs of stabilisation in major cities, a broad-based recovery remains unlikely in the