From Russell @RussRB
One industry body will not work because the industry is very diverse in it's supply of products to a multitude of retailers some being sheds, some multiples and others are independent retailers.
If we do need one body it needs to be a Government KBB ombudsman that can force companies to comply with strict rules who consistently create problems for it's customers. Retailers should have to display on all literature that they comply with their regulations. Now some of you might be saying there is a government backed scheme in place, the problem is you have to pay to join and when you have to pay they will not be fussy who they take because the money is more important, a lot of retailers are already affiliated with such bodies and they constantly have problems with either there design service, supply chains or installations so this proves it does not work. The furniture industry has a body that offers different levels of membership most of which are given to the sheds and multiples this body has no credibility with independents because they give their gold standard to companies that appear on consumer programmes and in consumer magazines with their problems. The buying public is being misled with massive fictitious discounts to lure people in only to receive a sub standard planning service with a 'designer' that has had little or no experience in the industry and although they will purchase KBB goods from either large or small retailers both areas will have good and bad instances of the whole buying experience. The public need to to have on the tips of there tongues a body that they will instantly recognise and the retailer will be proud to say I am a member because we fully comply and offer a very professional and comprehensive service. To summarise who will this body represent? will I just be buying an other acronym to put in my window. In my opinion there is no better accreditation than being recommended by your customers, we won the Liverpool Echo Merseyside trader of the year in December 2010 as voted by over 50 of our customers, so it is up to us to market that and show our potential customers that we do not need letters after our name to provide an excellent service.
