I have just done a comparison price based on the Galley Kitchen 8 unit model as per the Kitchen Compare website for the B&Q Cooke & Lewis, High Gloss Cream kitchen, Homebase Milano, John Lewis City Gloss Ivory, Magnet Purely Range Studio Cream and Wickes New Jersey. The prices comparison below is the closest specification to the companies above.
I would say that the specification of the 3 kitchens I used are of a higher specification than my competitors ranges.
I priced 3 companies:
1: K Kitchens Krystal Gloss with gloss effect end panels, PVC gloss plinth and PVC gloss bullnose / cornice pelmet rail, 4.1mtr Egger laminate worktop.
£1717.65
2: Lakes Kitchens Euro Cream Gloss with gloss effect end panels, gloss effect plinth and PVC gloss cornice / pelmet rail, 4.1mtr Egger laminate worktop.
£2051.75
3: Chippendale Technica Gloss Stone with gloss effect end panels, gloss effect plinth and PVC gloss cornice / pelmet rail, 4.1mtr Egger laminate worktop
£1788.80.
The prices above are current until April / May 2013.
People need to be aware that using a comparison site that only gives a snapshot of what is available is short sighted and is not a true reflection of what is actually available from a kitchen independent with 28yrs experience and customer service and advice second to none.
There are also other independents in this country that will also offer a better quality product and price than that of the comparison against the companies listed above.
Russell
Stuart Henry Kitchens Ltd
Tuesday, 19 February 2013
Thursday, 7 February 2013
"Who is Homebase Targeting"?
In this months KBB Review Derek Miller asks Who is Homebase targeting?
Here are my thoughts.
Here are my thoughts.
Tim Wallace
KBB Review
editor
7/2/13
In reply to
Derek Miller page 12 KBB review February 2013
“Who is
Homebase Targeting”
I can say
with absolute assurance that they “sheds” I.E Hombase, B&Q etc will never
on a mass scale have the big name brands on their shelves or their offering. This
is for a couple of reasons:
1. The
sheds will devalue the major brands product and they will not want to be
associated with a “shed” in such a large scale, they may offer the “shed” a
smaller part of their product but not the main designer led product.
2. If the
“sheds” sell the major brands product then the shed in the end will dictate the
price and the quantity it wants, what also will happen is the shed will change
its course and the suppliers eggs are in one basket and they pull that brand,
this happened to Next Dimension in Scunthorpe with its better quality kitchens,
B&Q pulled and next Dimension went under, this has happened to other
companies that have dealt with them and it has happened to other larger
retailers & their suppliers.
In 2000 Wickes
had an idea it wanted to “Go Fluffy” and to be able to attract the female buyer
rather than the Tradesman which is what they are known for, it did not really
work for them other than it promoted their kitchen, bathroom offering, and now
Wickes has gone back to its core trade customer.
Homebase
has always been seen as the middle class DIY store especially when it was owned
by Sainsbury’s as some people would not be seen dead in another DIY store even
if they did sell the same product cheaper and for several years even when
Homebase was sold to the ARG group people still thought it was owned by
Sainsbury’s. Generally a certain type of person will shop at Homebase, the type
of person who sees them as a bit more homely (but they are a bit more expensive
as a result of that).
They have
upped their game on kitchens and bedrooms by offering Schreiber and Odina
kitchens but we all know it is still a DIY store with a bit of “Fluffy” going
on.
If they
want to be really serious about their strategy going forward then they need to
employ professional kitchen/bedroom/bathroom designers not salespeople or train
they salespeople they have to a very high standard, they also need to look at
their delivery side of things for high ticket items but mostly they need to
look at their so called installation service, having a Trustmark is definitely
no guarantee that the customer gets a top quality fit, I know this from
experience of clients who have bought from me. The top guy in Homebase should
type into a search engine “Problems with Homebase kitchens 2012” and see what
comes up.
Russell
Buckley, Managing Director. Stuart Henry Kitchens Ltd.
Tuesday, 5 February 2013
Marion John, @Majjie, Advanced Kitchen Design
On Friday the 1st February 2013 our friend Marion John passed away after a short illness.
Marion was a great advocate of the kitchen industry a fine kitchen designer and Blogger through her website www.advancedkd.co.uk, to others some would say she was a great adversary in her no nonsense views on 'Kitchen Design'. Marion was in the throws of writing a book about kitchen design and layouts of kitchens giving people an insight into the kitchen world a demystifying myths and at the same time giving advice and pricing for sample kitchen layouts in various quality kitchens and their materials.
Marion visited industry trade shows to keep her finger on the pulse, whilst doing so she would gather information to write articles on what was interesting and new.
Having spent time with Marion in and out of work we got to see both sides of her passionate and caring nature and out of respect for her great work and memory we will still be tagging her in on blogs on twitter.
I am sure you will all agree that she will be very sadly missed by all.
Russell & Diane Buckley
Stuart Henry Kitchens Ltd.
Marion was a great advocate of the kitchen industry a fine kitchen designer and Blogger through her website www.advancedkd.co.uk, to others some would say she was a great adversary in her no nonsense views on 'Kitchen Design'. Marion was in the throws of writing a book about kitchen design and layouts of kitchens giving people an insight into the kitchen world a demystifying myths and at the same time giving advice and pricing for sample kitchen layouts in various quality kitchens and their materials.
Marion visited industry trade shows to keep her finger on the pulse, whilst doing so she would gather information to write articles on what was interesting and new.
Having spent time with Marion in and out of work we got to see both sides of her passionate and caring nature and out of respect for her great work and memory we will still be tagging her in on blogs on twitter.
I am sure you will all agree that she will be very sadly missed by all.
Russell & Diane Buckley
Stuart Henry Kitchens Ltd.
Tuesday, 22 January 2013
Kitchen Compare.com
I found a posting on @DIYweeknews regarding the current discussions about the kitchen compare website, so I posted a reply:
I own & run an independent kitchen studio on the Wirral designing & offering products from Chippendale, Sheraton, lakes, K Kitchens & Colonial plus lots of different appliance, worktop and sink manufacturers, I have provided people with £64k kitchens and we are doing one this week for £3k. We offer an unrivalled advice/design service for our market area, and the quality of our products are far far higher than the ones from the likes of B&Q, Magnet, Homebase, Wickes and Ikea, we are definitely less expensive in most cases and do not hike our prices to stupid figures only to reduce them by ridiculous amounts to tempt people in. When I give a fitting price it lists everything that is included and tells you what is not included, we won Merseyside Local Trader of the year in 2010 as voted by customers and received a design award in 2011, we are members of the FKBD Federation of Kitchen & Bathroom Designers and are FSB members (federation of small businesses). Unfortunately we are not on the Kitchen compare website because we design to suite what our clients want. We currently have an offer with 12 very good quality cabinets (better than the Sheds and Magnet)with laminate worktops, sink, taps, cornice, pelmet, plinth and Baumatic oven, hob, hood,fridge freezer, dishwasher for £3500 supplied. So in reply to Andy Steuart you do not have to spend £20k + and in reply to Steve Collinge. Yes you have to start somewhere but it would be nice if his website would point out the companies on his site are only a small representation of the kitchen industry and there are independents who can offer a service and products for similar or less than the companies quoted on the site. Being a Trustmark member or any other acronym member DOES NOT guarantee the client that they are getting the job that they think they are, people need to do their homework before jumping in feet first with thousands of pounds only to find the back up service stinks. People just need to type into their search engine "Problems with" such and such a company and see what comes up. If we make a mistake we correct it and that is the way it should be.
Russell
I own & run an independent kitchen studio on the Wirral designing & offering products from Chippendale, Sheraton, lakes, K Kitchens & Colonial plus lots of different appliance, worktop and sink manufacturers, I have provided people with £64k kitchens and we are doing one this week for £3k. We offer an unrivalled advice/design service for our market area, and the quality of our products are far far higher than the ones from the likes of B&Q, Magnet, Homebase, Wickes and Ikea, we are definitely less expensive in most cases and do not hike our prices to stupid figures only to reduce them by ridiculous amounts to tempt people in. When I give a fitting price it lists everything that is included and tells you what is not included, we won Merseyside Local Trader of the year in 2010 as voted by customers and received a design award in 2011, we are members of the FKBD Federation of Kitchen & Bathroom Designers and are FSB members (federation of small businesses). Unfortunately we are not on the Kitchen compare website because we design to suite what our clients want. We currently have an offer with 12 very good quality cabinets (better than the Sheds and Magnet)with laminate worktops, sink, taps, cornice, pelmet, plinth and Baumatic oven, hob, hood,fridge freezer, dishwasher for £3500 supplied. So in reply to Andy Steuart you do not have to spend £20k + and in reply to Steve Collinge. Yes you have to start somewhere but it would be nice if his website would point out the companies on his site are only a small representation of the kitchen industry and there are independents who can offer a service and products for similar or less than the companies quoted on the site. Being a Trustmark member or any other acronym member DOES NOT guarantee the client that they are getting the job that they think they are, people need to do their homework before jumping in feet first with thousands of pounds only to find the back up service stinks. People just need to type into their search engine "Problems with" such and such a company and see what comes up. If we make a mistake we correct it and that is the way it should be.
Russell
Thursday, 20 December 2012
You don't need a Magnet for induction cooking
No I have not created some new technology just as we are getting to grips with the current one, this is about the barrage of of TV ads we are about to have bestowed upon us by that wonderful kitchen specialist Magnet Plc. and others.
The ads have started "Magnet sale starts Boxing Day" mega bucks off, free appliances and now also they must have acquired some new technology "Bring in your measurements for an instant quote". This must mean they have downgraded their "Designers" to scan technology consultants were they put your measurements into a scanner it then transfers them to a CAD system and produces a design and quotation for your new kitchen, clever stuff Magnet.
But maybe it is not such a bad idea because from the experiences that our clients have had by going to Magnet & other multiples/sheds 1st because the Human form of Designers have not done a very good job any way.
Countless customers across the country will be waiting with baited breath outside their local Magnet & kitchen multiple store on Boxing Day wearing their in fashion Christmas Jumpers, but a lot of them will be disappointed once they have had their kitchens designed as most of them (not all) but a lot will have poorly designed kitchens that may not fit due to mis-measured or incorrect advice, that is not saying the people charged with offering such design advice are incapable, given some training they would probably pick up things and learn you would hope by their mistakes. This not being the only problem, the other problem lies with Magnets and the DIY markets obsession with making the public & it's staff believe that it's massive discounts and free appliances are the answer to peoples kitchen dreams.
I understand companies like Magnet, Wickes, Hombase etc... have to pull people in their doors and it seems the only way they think they can do it is by offering huge discounts well it's not. Here is something novel: try training your staff correctly and continue training them, not on how to sell but how to measure, plan & design, then offer a truly honest service, with proper back up should things go wrong (because they do) then maybe people will believe that kitchen companies are not their to rip them off but to help them improve their living and cooking standards.
The buying public need to stop being so naive by not being taken in with these mega sale discount offers because they are not real and choose a kitchen based on something that will improve their lives and possibly cost a lot less than they thought, how? by going to a professional kitchen company.
So until such time when they wake up and smell the coffee take your measurements to the magic quoting machine at your local kitchen multiple and spend more than you need to on something you don't want, need or even worse the new design does not do what it is supposed to do.
I don't offer mega discounts, I don't need to because my prices and other proper kitchen companies prices are not inflated and are in fact in most case less expensive than the huge discounted kitchen sales offers that are about to flood the media.
Have a Happy Christmas and not such an expensive New Year.
Russell
Stuart Henry Kitchens.
The ads have started "Magnet sale starts Boxing Day" mega bucks off, free appliances and now also they must have acquired some new technology "Bring in your measurements for an instant quote". This must mean they have downgraded their "Designers" to scan technology consultants were they put your measurements into a scanner it then transfers them to a CAD system and produces a design and quotation for your new kitchen, clever stuff Magnet.
But maybe it is not such a bad idea because from the experiences that our clients have had by going to Magnet & other multiples/sheds 1st because the Human form of Designers have not done a very good job any way.
Countless customers across the country will be waiting with baited breath outside their local Magnet & kitchen multiple store on Boxing Day wearing their in fashion Christmas Jumpers, but a lot of them will be disappointed once they have had their kitchens designed as most of them (not all) but a lot will have poorly designed kitchens that may not fit due to mis-measured or incorrect advice, that is not saying the people charged with offering such design advice are incapable, given some training they would probably pick up things and learn you would hope by their mistakes. This not being the only problem, the other problem lies with Magnets and the DIY markets obsession with making the public & it's staff believe that it's massive discounts and free appliances are the answer to peoples kitchen dreams.
I understand companies like Magnet, Wickes, Hombase etc... have to pull people in their doors and it seems the only way they think they can do it is by offering huge discounts well it's not. Here is something novel: try training your staff correctly and continue training them, not on how to sell but how to measure, plan & design, then offer a truly honest service, with proper back up should things go wrong (because they do) then maybe people will believe that kitchen companies are not their to rip them off but to help them improve their living and cooking standards.
The buying public need to stop being so naive by not being taken in with these mega sale discount offers because they are not real and choose a kitchen based on something that will improve their lives and possibly cost a lot less than they thought, how? by going to a professional kitchen company.
So until such time when they wake up and smell the coffee take your measurements to the magic quoting machine at your local kitchen multiple and spend more than you need to on something you don't want, need or even worse the new design does not do what it is supposed to do.
I don't offer mega discounts, I don't need to because my prices and other proper kitchen companies prices are not inflated and are in fact in most case less expensive than the huge discounted kitchen sales offers that are about to flood the media.
Have a Happy Christmas and not such an expensive New Year.
Russell
Stuart Henry Kitchens.
Saturday, 15 December 2012
Customer Letter yesterday 14/12/12
Here is a letter we received yesterday from a customer in Cunningham Avenue Bromborough. I have translated the letter so it can be easily read & I have also added a photo of the letter.
Dear Russell & Diane.
When you are really delighted with something then it's really worth writing to pass on your gratitude.
Russell & Diane I've got to say a huge thank you for all your help, guidance in helping me choose a fabulous new kitchen.
I was first drawn because of my perception of your quality, value for money, honesty & attention to detail.
I haven't been disappointed. You have helped me so much in the design & planning of my kitchen, guided me through tough decisions along the way as well as having a great deal of patience. I would thoroughly recommend you.
May I also pass on my thanks to David (Tyson Installations) his team, all of the work from fitting the units, appliances, plastering, electrics & tiling has been faultless & to a very high standard throughout the work, he communicated the plan of what was happening on what day so I clearly knew what was happening.
The team have all been very friendly, committed right until the end to ensure the job was done right.
Yours Mrs A
This letter is one of many thank you cards along with chocolates, flowers and wine that we receive on a regular basis but is is really heart warming when you receive such a nice letter from a nice lady who entrusted us into her home and guide her through a major purchase and upheaval in her home.
Russell & Diane
Dear Russell & Diane.
When you are really delighted with something then it's really worth writing to pass on your gratitude.
Russell & Diane I've got to say a huge thank you for all your help, guidance in helping me choose a fabulous new kitchen.
I was first drawn because of my perception of your quality, value for money, honesty & attention to detail.
I haven't been disappointed. You have helped me so much in the design & planning of my kitchen, guided me through tough decisions along the way as well as having a great deal of patience. I would thoroughly recommend you.
May I also pass on my thanks to David (Tyson Installations) his team, all of the work from fitting the units, appliances, plastering, electrics & tiling has been faultless & to a very high standard throughout the work, he communicated the plan of what was happening on what day so I clearly knew what was happening.
The team have all been very friendly, committed right until the end to ensure the job was done right.
Yours Mrs A
This letter is one of many thank you cards along with chocolates, flowers and wine that we receive on a regular basis but is is really heart warming when you receive such a nice letter from a nice lady who entrusted us into her home and guide her through a major purchase and upheaval in her home.
Russell & Diane
Monday, 10 December 2012
Kitchen appliance companies, who to use
There is a little debate within the industry at the moment regarding kitchen appliance companies & which ones to use without filling your showroom & clients kitchens with the usual manufacturers such as Neff, Bosch, Siemens & Miele. It was even quoted on Linked In by one Linked in user "Experiences with alternatives to the usual appliance manufacturers? -I'm bored of Neff & Bosch!!"
I have a kitchen studio & I would say 80% of my displays are Neff and that mirrors in the sales split also. I have looked at other manufactures for a couple of reasons one of them being Neff's ability to hold themselves in God like status & behold anybody who is blasphemous to the brand, the other being to search out something not as expensive for clients who cannot afford to kit out their new kitchens with Neff's appliances. I do say to all customers if you are going to spend your money on something in the kitchen make sure you get quality appliances because this is the reason you are getting a new kitchen in the first place so that you can enhance you home and cooking experiences, but like I said even then not all people can stretch their budgets beyond a reasonable limit.
I have had personal experience in not only sourcing appliance for my studio but also for my home and I can honestly say after extensive research including look, touch and feel that Neff are the only brand that offer an extensive across the board range of appliances that can be married with each other in looks, they have some appliances that don't cost the earth albeit with less features than the pricier models but nonetheless they will do what they are supposed to do and you can match across the range. The features on some of their appliances far outweigh their competition, like the telescopic flex rails, steam setting in normal ovens, dough proving and then bread baking without the need to remove it from the proving process.
This sounds like a promotional blog for Neff, I can assure you it is not, Neff as a company have many flaws like most companies which I will not mention here but if the whole debate is about the appliance, it's after sales back up and it F+B's then in my honest opinion there is not better.
Russell
I have a kitchen studio & I would say 80% of my displays are Neff and that mirrors in the sales split also. I have looked at other manufactures for a couple of reasons one of them being Neff's ability to hold themselves in God like status & behold anybody who is blasphemous to the brand, the other being to search out something not as expensive for clients who cannot afford to kit out their new kitchens with Neff's appliances. I do say to all customers if you are going to spend your money on something in the kitchen make sure you get quality appliances because this is the reason you are getting a new kitchen in the first place so that you can enhance you home and cooking experiences, but like I said even then not all people can stretch their budgets beyond a reasonable limit.
I have had personal experience in not only sourcing appliance for my studio but also for my home and I can honestly say after extensive research including look, touch and feel that Neff are the only brand that offer an extensive across the board range of appliances that can be married with each other in looks, they have some appliances that don't cost the earth albeit with less features than the pricier models but nonetheless they will do what they are supposed to do and you can match across the range. The features on some of their appliances far outweigh their competition, like the telescopic flex rails, steam setting in normal ovens, dough proving and then bread baking without the need to remove it from the proving process.
This sounds like a promotional blog for Neff, I can assure you it is not, Neff as a company have many flaws like most companies which I will not mention here but if the whole debate is about the appliance, it's after sales back up and it F+B's then in my honest opinion there is not better.
Russell
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