UK Managing Director Richard Nicholls outlines the inspiration behind the Sanipex A&D Gallery London, as well as highlighting key UK projects and European growth strategies.

Why did you choose London as the location for the Sanipex A&D Gallery?

The UK has the second-largest design sector in the world and the largest design industry in Europe, with one in three of all of the UK’s design firms being based in London. Essentially, where London leads, others follow. The new Sanipex A&D Gallery is located in the heart of London’s design district, within walking distance from Chelsea Harbour Design Centre and close to London’s leading design trade and consumer shows. It is also close to convenient transport links, making it readily accessible from anywhere in the UK and across Europe – accessibility to Europe is key as export is a large division for Sanipex UK.

How long did the Sanipex A&D Gallery take to complete?

From concept to completion, the Sanipex A&D Gallery was finished in just twelve weeks, despite the challenges and constraints presented by the pandemic and resulting restrictions on movement. This could not have been achieved without the incredible effort displayed by the team, from the design of the new space and roomsets to the delivery of stock, logistics and marketing support; being able to deliver to the high standard required within the tight timeframe is testament to the dedication and commitment of the numerous Sanipex employees who unstintingly contributed their time, talent and unique skillsets for a great result.

What does Sanipex A&D Gallery offer design professionals?

We built this showroom for the architects and designers; our clients are in the name of our showroom – it’s a Gallery offering inspiration to the A&D community. We now offer an end-to-end luxury lifestyle solution all under one roof, thanks to addition brand partnerships. We have expanded beyond bathrooms to include Spa & Wellness, Tiles & Slabs and Outdoor Living. The showroom reflects the latest design trends for interior and exterior spaces from around the globe.

The Sanipex A&D Gallery also acts as a unique space where our suppliers, clients and project team can work, meet, demonstrate products and host events. It is intended to both encourage and facilitate creativity while fostering an innovation mindset. Our professional and private clients have the benefit of being able to draw upon the deep knowledge and expertise of our project team; we view every project as a collaboration and can offer bespoke solutions for outstanding results.

We also offer a concierge service for our partner brands, which is particularly valuable for those without an existing London base.

What is unique about the new Sanipex A&D Gallery in London?

The Sanipex A&D Gallery offers an inspirational space that showcases a wide range of exciting interior and exterior design concepts from over 30 leading manufacturers, as well as from our own brands Bagnodesign and Aquaeco. We have a large tile gallery and space to create moodboards as well as offering a sample services and reference materials. We’ve seen great success from our Sanipex Gallery in the UAE with the variety of brands covering all requirements and price points for indoor and outdoor, it was a natural move to replicate this in the UK and collate everything our clients need.

01 Display Update
02 Cafe Bagno Meeting Area
03 Display Update
04 Display Update
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Can you tell us more about the newly curated brands?

We scour the globe for the best brands in terms of quality and value for money. We are proud to have numerous new brand presence in the Gallery, we ensured to look for brands ahead of the curve: Nobili are a pioneer in the engineering of brassware and Jati & Kebon’s outdoor furniture is already a best seller, we use several Del Conca slab tiles for our Bagnodesign Alpine range and Vondom have illuminated seating and planters specified in some of the funkiest hotels worldwide. All these brands and and their ethos’s resonate incredibly well with designers.

We scoured the globe for the best brands in terms of quality and value for money. We are proud to have numerous new brand presence in the Gallery, we ensured to look for brands ahead of the curve: Nobili are a pioneer in the engineering of brassware and Jati & Kebon’s outdoor furniture is already a big seller, we use Del Conca’s tile slabs for our Bagnodesign Alpine range and Vondom have illuminated seating and planters specified in some of the funkiest hotels worldwide.

01 Nobili
02 Nobili & Galassia
03 Be Modern
04 Roman
05 Tile Gallery
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What sets these brands apart from others found in the market?

We build relationships with both our clients and brands, meaning we work together to deliver numerous bespoke demands for large-scale projects. In line with providing a full bathroom supply to The Stage at Shoreditch, we have worked with Roman on creating a bespoke shower enclosure solution for every apartment  – this project is very much a three way partnership between Sanipex, Roman and CJ O’Shea. This ethos of working closely with design professionals has been realised in the development of the working space in the Sanipex Gallery.

What are the advantages of Sanipex UK’s supply chain and logistics capabilities?

Volume, bespoke material and delivery capabilities are all proven strengths.

By stocking large product quantities continuously, we operate on a 48-hour turnaround to ensure seamless and fast delivery across Europe and beyond from our warehouse in Leeds. This is a big advantage for our clients as the extensive waiting periods that are standard across the industry can result in expensive and frustrating project delays. For example, we were one of the only suppliers with capabilities to provide the required volume to Harbour Central – Europes largest project at the time.

Our vast project experience enables us to manage complex material requirements in line with demand; by working with manufacturers and factories across three continents, we can deliver both standard and bespoke products – reliably, quickly and in line with the high quality standards our customers have come to expect.

We efficiently mobilise and distribute to our clients around the world either directly thanks to our world class infrastructure with land, air or sea freight facilities. Our European Distribution Centre in Leeds UK services; Europe, Russia, Qatar, parts of North Africa and The Caribbean – as seen with Club Med in the remote location of Guadeloupe.

What is Sanipex Group’s advantage in the UK and European markets?

Sanipex Group provides products that are compliant and certified in line with market requirements. Our logistical expertise enables us to deliver complex projects across numerous markets, while established partnerships with suppliers not only support the delivery of own products but allow us to reliably deliver full project solutions.

In addition, by embracing digital channels, we substantially elevate the customer experience. Our website provides a design experience that is unrivalled in our sector, and makes it easier for designers working from home to be inspired by our collections and make informed choices as to which products and finishes will work for distinct projects across different sectors.

Which are your key upcoming projects?

The Stage in Shoreditch London is becoming a local landmark as home to the remains of the Shakespearean Curtain Theatre. Situated in a creative district, it’s only fitting that The Stage encompasses creative design with Matt Black Zephyr brassware and sanitaryware adding to the industrial styling.

Kangaroo Works in the north of England is a significant mixed-use project of Henry Boot Construction, designed by local architects Whittam Cox. Under construction as part of the Heart of the City scheme, the regeneration project will become the commercial hub of the city centre. Sanipex UK is proud to play a part in a further regeneration project as seen with supply to  Timber Yard, Birmingham.

What is Sanipex UK’s focus for the future?

Currently, Sanipex UK is very much in a growth phase. Moving forward, we will continue to expand by increasing market share while developing new product and client channels. Underpinning this is the strength of our established and highly knowledgeable teams; we are committed to further individual development and training to drive growth and enable our succession plans.