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KSA

KSA update,

May 2025.

ay has been a busy month for Our guests for the day were a consisted of Stefan Marais from Optima
everyone. The impact of the combination of kitchen industry players, Kitchens, Nico Jansen van Rensburg from
Mongoing long weekends in architects and interior designers. Upper Edge Products, Stephanie Forbes
April had a huge knock-on effect on the Industry professionals who joined us for from the KSA, Maria Day from the IID
industry’s general productivity, and had the full day and all three CPD talks could and Chrstopher de Bod of Christopher
everyone scrambling to catch up in May. access a full 1.0 CPD points. The three de Bod Designs. They unpacked the
For the KSA it was a month of two big talks on the day received good interaction challenges to uptakeing and embracing
events. and positive feedback. The first talk was of new trends and products, and how
We started with our Gauteng Industry titled The Power of Three, and looked small the community of early embracers
showcase which was held on 7 May at at how three suppliers (Hafele, Sonae are in the design community. They
The Acreage in Midrand. This is a day of Arauco and Caesarstone) collaborated to looked at consumer conservatism and
networking and learning, while enjoying make a beautiful showroom space each their inability to visualise new concepts.
an outdoor, relaxed environment with showcasing how their products enhanced They looked at the disconnect between
great food from our food truck providers. one another. Maria Day from the IID supplier and designer and the need to
The day showcased twenty three KSA and Sonja Paul from Boogertman and give suppliers better access to introduce
supplier members who were highlighting Partners, joined the panel and brought new products. They also looked at the
their brands to the guests, and their an interior design perspective as to how importance of brining in new talent to
products – Articad, Bluewater Group, this kind of synergy can be created in a business to challenge and disrupt the
Boardmart, Cape Speciality Coatings, all spaces to better enhance a customer design standards within companies.
Cosentino, FIT, Grass, Greenlam, Hafele, experience. The final talk was presented by Rubio
Home Concept, Kwikot, Liebherr, Our second talk was controversially Monocoat and Kitchen Craft. It looked
Mactool, Max on Top, National Edging, titled SA Designer - creative or coward. at the history of veneers, where we are
Nukor, PG Bison, Roco, Rubio Monocoat, It looked at two products launched by today with veneers, their quality, cost
Sonae Arauco, Union Tiles, Upper Edge Upper Edge Products at the KSA’s 2024 and application, and then it looked at
Products and Vogue Doors. It was also showcase, and posted the question as to the various treatments that can be used
another successful collaboration between why one was readily adopted and the other to enhance veneers increasing their
the KSA and the IID. is still not being embraced. The panel longevity and aesthetic.

22 Issue 290 • dw