Sanipex embarks on strategic expansion
01 December 2006
Sanipex Group, the Dubai-based purveyor of high-end sanitary ware and plumbing items, has opened its latest luxury bathroom ware showroom in Manama, Bahrain.
Bagno Design Bahrain is the fourth showroom to open in the GCC and represents Sanipex Group’s strategic expansion within the region’s sanitary ware industry.
“Bagno Design Bahrain is set to follow the success of its Dubai signature showroom, which has registered phenomenal growth since its founding in 1994,” says Daryl Barker, group managing director. “This is not surprising, considering its excellent service quality and exceptional product portfolio, which boasts world-renowned manufacturers of sanitary ware, tiles, plumbing accessories, sinks, bath tubs and top-of-the-line products. Commercial clients in Bahrain will benefit greatly from Bagno Design’s many years experience with projects in Dubai and the wider Gulf region.”
The European-owned Sanipex Group was initially established as an indenting agent, representing quality European manufacturers of plumbing and sanitary goods in the Middle East, and has expanded to include four separate divisions: indenting, retail, project and wholesale.
Sanipex Group’s chain of Bagno Design showrooms is one of the region’s premier luxury bathroom outlets and although unique outside of Europe, could easily be at home in London, Milan or Munich.
“Our Bagno Design showrooms are highly appreciated by the style-conscious individual who has a taste for the finer things in life”, says Barker. “They also act as an invaluable support to Sanipex’s thriving project division.”
Bagno Design is one of the leading project suppliers in the Gulf for designer hotels such as Hyatt, Kempinski, Meridien and Sofitel projects and has already made an impression in Bahrain with its work on Manama’s Mercure Grand Hotel. “Bagno Design is expected to take the Bahrain market by storm and expand its influence throughout the region,” says Barker. “Opening a showroom in Manama enables us to have a stronger connection with our Bahraini clients as well as to provide them with local service and increased support.’’
“We are showing a long-term commitment to our Bahrain operation. We are now better equipped to provide our clients with full sales and technical support throughout every stage of the order as well as offering an after-sales facility,” confirms Stephen Glew, export manager-projects. “Clients, both private and commercial, can come and see the latest European designs and styles at their leisure in the inspirational setting of our design centre.”
Maintaining an extensive inventory in the form of the ‘Bagno Design Price Guide’ is a major advantage the company has over its competition. It keeps bulk stocks of all listed items in its Dubai warehouses, supporting the sales of all of its outlets and enabling fast delivery times.
“We like to refer to our showrooms as ‘designer tool boxes’,” says Kerrie Black, Sanipex group brand manager. “We organise our products according to their type (for example, washbasin, bath tub or accessory) as opposed to laying out specific bathroom suites. This allows a designer to leisurely peruse our inspiring showrooms and not be pigeonholed into following a particular theme. We encourage the ‘mixing-and-matching’ of different products to create a truly unique bathroom, tailored specifically to the customer’s desires.”
“Our professional design coordinators are on hand to offer style advice and our comprehensive ‘Bagno Design Price Guide’ lists all the products we keep in stock along with their technical details and prices – an invaluable reference book for all. As well as these items, we can source a plethora of bathroom articles from our esteemed suppliers all across Europe,” Black adds.
Bagno Design boasts a professional and experienced logistics team that offers prompt delivery times, and phased deliveries to cater to the needs of the project in question.
Bagno Design Bahrain has been established in Manama, ideally located on the Saudi Highway next to Veranda Café.
“We are bringing a fresh new range of products to the market, which at a time of massive growth on the island, will offer the premium end of the market the opportunity to create exclusive and luxurious bathrooms with European brands that were previously unavailable. To cater for this expansion, the construction industry will need an experienced and proven partner who can assist with the smooth running of the contract and therefore offer more than just the supply of product,” adds Glew. “We are that partner”.
Headed by showroom manager Shafiq Ur Rahman and supported by Audrey Tongol, Bagno Design Bahrain offers an impressive list of products to its clients, designers and architects.
Aside from its own brand, the Bagno Design product range, its key principals include Bertocci – luxury bathroom accessories; Fantini – luxury contemporary mixers; Eurobath – contract and design mixers; Alape – luxury washroom equipment; Cesana – luxury shower enclosures; Bossini – luxury showering products; Effegibi – steam rooms and saunas; Kaldewei and Hoesch Design – luxury bathtubs and whirlpools; and Zucchetti – luxury contemporary mixers.
