The bathroom market has fallen 25% since 2007 when it was £1.5 billion. It was forecast to bottom out in 2009, followed with a slight bounce-back in 2010 and not return to 2007 levels until 2013. 

The best that can be said for such numbers is that at least we have reached the bottom and that we can look forward to reaping the rewards of a return to growth even if it only takes us back to previous heights!

One area for optimism is that consumers are taking the 'don't move, improve' route to better homes. Additional bathroom facilities certainly add value to a home, but more importantly provide real benefits for a busy family.

Specialist retailers have access to a host of products plus a wealth of knowledge and experience and can therefore offer consumers with the perfect service for improving their homes. 

When it comes to providing bathroom solutions with multiple facilities specialist retailers have the edge over any other type of retailer. If knowledge is power then experience is the driver, quality products the key and services the ultimate competitive edge. 

The all-round service provider that is the specialist bathroom retailer must have the confidence to compete on their own terms and seize every market opportunity.The current 'don't move, improve' status of many consumers offers retailers a major opportunity to generate higher-value sales by switching from lower value conventional pedestal basins to semi-countertop or vessel basins and combining them with high-value bathroom furniture.

By topping these off with single lever monoblock mixers retailers can provide the perfect solution to create stylish cloakroom and en suites. 

While the en suite is still a relatively new phenomenon in the average home, the nature of the products used within it is changing. Smaller basins are in demand to be combined with shower facilities. Vessel or semi-countertop basins on furniture offer useful storage while being compact for use in small rooms. This is a new area and one that is now open to growth and increased value opportunities as vessel basins carry a higher value. High-value pieces of cloakroom furniture can then be added.

The most popular basin on the market is the conventional pedestal basin, typically 55cm in size with the 50cm version the second most popular. Anything larger has very limited sales.