What’s hot in the brassware market?

The Keswick shower collection in brass by Roper Rhodes

Sales of high-quality and coloured brassware has continued to rise for the last 12 months, with many bathroom manufacturers reporting increases in demand.

Consumer demand has driven much of the high sales, with some companies reporting sale growth of 9% in brassware and sales up by 25% in some finishes like gold or nickel.

Colm Lalor, commercial director at the Roxor Group, shared its sale report and said: “Brassware has dominated bathroom revamps over the past 18 months, and our sales are up 9% compared with 2021.”

In terms of finishes, gold has risen in recent months, with both Vado and BC Designs saying that there are currently on the up. Darren Allison, managing director of BC Designs, said: “Sales are up 25% this year, with significant demand for brushed gold and brushed nickel finishes.”

While Angela Neve, product and marketing director at Vado, said: “Gold brassware is taking the industry by storm, and mixing contemporary and traditional elements is a go to trend at the moment.”

According to Roper Rhodes, Rose gold has seen a dip in sales as other metal brassware continues to grow. Joe Stephens, category manager of brassware at Roper Rhodes, said: “With the exception of rose gold, metal brassware continues to grow in popularity.

“Unlike coloured finishes- brass, bronze and stainless steel are naturally occurring materials that have withstood the test of time and will continue to evolve in one guise or another. I think the next step for metal finishes will be surface treatments and textures – for instance, the popularity of knurled metal.”

In terms of styles, there is still a split between those wanting traditional versus contemporary brassware, with interest from consumers in both camps. Mike Simpson, chief marketing officer at Elisa, said: “Slim taps with a minimalist look are very popular, and there’s also plenty of interest in traditional designs.”

An exciting finding from BC Designs is that they are seeing that traditional brassware is becoming more popular with the 25-35 age group, which is a style that used only to be popular with the over 50s. 

Stephens from Roper Rhodes has seen the mix of both old and new in the bathroom, with customers mixing styles. He explained: “We’re seeing a continuous play of old and new in bathroom design. For example, many consumers are choosing to pair contemporary brassware with traditional or Shaker units or opting for a traditional shower with bold, modern tiles.

“However, there will always be homeowners who want a completely traditional or modern look, and we are fortunate as a multi-category brand to be able to cater to a wide range of design tastes.

Home > News > What’s hot in the brassware market?