Bathroom retailer Ripples, a leading UK bathroom retail chain, has expanded its national footprint once again with the addition of two new showrooms in Walton-on-Thames and Bishop’s Waltham, bringing the total number of locations to 23.
Founded in Bath in 1988 by Roger and Sandra Kyme, the Ripples brand has grown from its first showroom to become a nationally recognized name in bathroom retail. Since franchising the business in 1997, the company has experienced consistent growth, expanding its reach across the UK.
The new Bishop’s Waltham showroom offers customers the opportunity to explore an exclusive selection of high-quality bathroom products. Visitors can also collaborate with the in-house designer to create a bespoke bathroom that suits their unique needs and lifestyle.
Ripples’ Walton-on-Thames location features a carefully curated collection of premium bathroom products sourced from leading European brands. The showroom showcases everything from freestanding baths and fluted basins to statement lighting and beautifully crafted brassware, all designed to bring luxury and functionality into the home.
Peter Harris, the owner of the Bishop’s Waltham showroom, which complements his successful Ripples location in Winchester, expressed his excitement about expanding the Ripples brand to this picturesque town. He shared, “Bishop’s Waltham is a beautiful market town with a strong sense of community, and it’s the ideal setting for our next boutique showroom. My vision is for this space to become a hub of design inspiration, offering clients a place to explore ideas, receive expert advice, and enjoy truly personalized service. We look forward to welcoming everyone.”
The Walton-on-Thames showroom is managed by franchise owners Sivam Samji and Andrew Charter, with designer Emily Lack providing expert design consultation. Samji remarked, “Joining the Ripples family is a real privilege. We’re excited to bring our extensive product collection and design expertise to Walton-on-Thames. Our goal is to help clients create bathrooms that are not only beautiful but also functional and tailored to their unique lifestyle.”
Franchise Models Resilient Amid KBB Sector Challenges
In a period when many independent kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom (KBB) businesses face challenging trading conditions, both Ripples and Kutchenhaus have bucked the trend, demonstrating the resilience of their franchise models. While the KBB sector has experienced some downturns, it would appear that the franchise business model has allowed these brands to continue growing.
The annual Elite Franchise Top 100 list has included Bathroom retailer Ripples in its annual rankings a number of times, with the recent inclusions of 2023, 2022 and 2021 which ranks the Top 100 franchise businesses to start.
The Elite Franchise Top 100 ranks businesses based on a range of factors, including longevity, network size, financial performance, growth, and innovation.
Despite the challenges in the franchise sector, Bathroom retailer Ripples and Kutchenhaus stand out as examples of how a well-structured franchise model can offer value to both franchisees and franchisors. While there are inherent risks and a lack of regulation in the franchise industry, it is clear that the strategic approach adopted by Ripples and Kutchenhaus continues to deliver growth and success.
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