Taking the plunge and opening a kitchen showroom

[Liam-a]

As the post says I've finally decided to take the plunge and open a kitchen supply showroom!
I've been selling and fitting the kitchens and realised it's impossible to do both so I'm fully committed to the showroom idea.

Any hints and tips would be grateful and any advice.

For the marketing side of things I'm going to be doing flyer drops promoting the opening of the showroom, an article in the local paper, Facebook and I'm also sending letters out weekly to planning applications touting for business all local joiners and kitchen fitters will be getting contacted aswell.

Any thing else I should be doing??

Thanks in advance

Liam

 

[fisicx]

I'd be working out hot to compete with all the other kitchen showrooms. Why would I want to come to yours and not B&Q?

How big is your catchment area? What it the local housing stock? Are there enough wealthy people to keep you busy?

What do you do with all the flyers that drop through your door? What makes you think people are looking on facebook for a new kitchen?

Do you have loads of images on Google? Do you rank number one on Google for 'kitchen showrooms' in your local area?

Have you got brochures printed showing all the kitchens?

What deals are you offering all the other kitchen fitters? Can you do a better deal on worktops than Howdens for example.

 

[estwig]

Kitchen supply, supply only?

How will you compete with Howdens and the like.

People go to a kitchen showroom because they want design, supply, fit and finance, all in one place.

 

[MandaBarnes]

As the post says I've finally decided to take the plunge and open a kitchen supply showroom!
I've been selling and fitting the kitchens and realised it's impossible to do both so I'm fully committed to the showroom idea.

Any hints and tips would be grateful and any advice.

For the marketing side of things I'm going to be doing flyer drops promoting the opening of the showroom, an article in the local paper, Facebook and I'm also sending letters out weekly to planning applications touting for business all local joiners and kitchen fitters will be getting contacted aswell.

Any thing else I should be doing??

Thanks in advance

Liam

No advice on this topic, but I just wanted to drop by and say good luck! This posts popped out at me and I figured I'd send my well wishes, as it's clearly a huge step for you! Good luck!!!

 

[Dory]

so 30 years doing this - my tips are - make sure any suppliers are reliable and will support you - don't confuse yourself and the customer by trying to deal with everyone - find out what the competition does and offer something different - we do a complete service with project management of all trades so the customer doesn't have to worry about that side of things - but that might not suit your area - not necessary to have a town centre shop - people will come to you - parking is helpful - maybe near some other home improvement type businesses - try to get as much free / low cost advertising as you can - facebook - google my business on google maps - get leaflets or ads in those little local mags - we have tried all the expensive stuff - it doesn't work any better ( planning application we found a waste of time)

 

[Liam-a]

Hi all, thanks for the replies,
Just to clarify I'll be doing the selling but offer a full package from design to install, I have an electrician gas engineer, 2 good fitters lined up plus I know another 2 and more if I get busy. The shop I'm looking at is a small town centre one ( just down a street from the busy places) there's a big Wilko's with a carpark behind the shop, I use one supplier where I get my units and doors from and one supplier where I get my appliances from Another where worktops come from so all set and I've been doing alright selling from my van with swatches and door samples.
What I'm thinking is a couple of displays and an area where I can demonstrate the build quality and have good one to one conversation with my customers without lots of people milling around therefore a more personal sales experience. It's just the marketing side if things that I struggle with I've been.

 

[Liam-a]

so 30 years doing this - my tips are - make sure any suppliers are reliable and will support you - don't confuse yourself and the customer by trying to deal with everyone - find out what the competition does and offer something different - we do a complete service with project management of all trades so the customer doesn't have to worry about that side of things - but that might not suit your area - not necessary to have a town centre shop - people will come to you - parking is helpful - maybe near some other home improvement type businesses - try to get as much free / low cost advertising as you can - facebook - google my business on google maps - get leaflets or ads in those little local mags - we have tried all the expensive stuff - it doesn't work any better ( planning application we found a waste of time)

Hi dory,
What advertising do you think works best for a kitchen showroom ? I've been trying the planning application route and so far had nothing from that. I would only need one kitchen a week to tickover but my goal is 3 a week I'm pretty sure that this is more than capable with a small well planned out shop.
Where abouts are you based ??
Cheers

 

[estwig]

People love the 3D visualisations, mad for them, a full colour printed version is a great way to make sure your customers leave the shop grasping something from you, to remind them of how good you are. They will show it to all their friends and relatives to ask their opinion, and tell them all about you at the same time.

 

[Liam-a]

People love the 3D visualisations, mad for them, a full colour printed version is a great way to make sure your customers leave the shop grasping something from you, to remind them of how good you are. They will show it to all their friends and relatives to ask their opinion, and tell them all about you at the same time.

Ive got the software to do this. I have everything in place to run a showroom smoothly just worried I'll be sitting in it with no customers!

 

[Alyson Dyer]

From a customer perspective: I’m in the market for a new kitchen.
I have had 5 different companies around to measure up and pitch me their design. The costs vary from the cost of an Audi A3 to a well spec’ed C Class Merc.
The design is much of a muchness because I know what I want and where I want it.
The result? I’m waiting for the Howdens sale as the designs, quality and colours are similar so beware people like me who will consider th high end designs and shop around for the most cost effective solution.

 

[Liam-a]

From a customer perspective: I’m in the market for a new kitchen.
I have had 5 different companies around to measure up and pitch me their design. The costs vary from the cost of an Audi A3 to a well spec’ed C Class Merc.
The design is much of a muchness because I know what I want and where I want it.
The result? I’m waiting for the Howdens sale as the designs, quality and colours are similar so beware people like me who will consider th high end designs and shop around for the most cost effective solution.

Hi Alyson,
Would you mind emailing me the plan and letting me quote just to see how I compare to the prices ?

 

[Alyson Dyer]

Hi Alyson,
Would you mind emailing me the plan and letting me quote just to see how I compare to the prices ?

I’m going to Howdens again next week, I’ll email you the plan afterwards.

 

[Beyond]

I’m going to Howdens again next week, I’ll email you the plan afterwards.

DIY kitchens are better than Howdens and a lot cheaper on the real wood vaneer doors also PWS.
Wrens & Magnet kitchen units are only good for fire wood

 

[Dory]

Sounds like you have a good basis for a kitchen business. In our 30 years we have tried all advertising. We are in a South Bucks village with affluent towns all round us. We find the local approach best, local info mags, local paper, facebook and local social media. just concentrate on building up a good reputation, you might already have that as you have already been trading. It does take a while to get going with a new shop. Decide where you are in the market place and stick to it. If you are not in the Howdens DIY kitchens price range don't try to beat their prices. Inform your customers where you are better, product service etc. tell people to look on mumsnet for reviews of Wren. Try to increase your order value by making sure they buy as much from you that you can provide, not wander off and spend their money on stuff on the internet etc. Agree with above about 3D designs and also give itemised quote so customer can see where they are spending their money. We give our customers a full presentation foc. Final thing, get a good accountant to keep on top of the books and all the employer / cis responsibilities because if you get it wrong it can cost a lot as some businesses we know found out.

 

[Liam-a]

Sounds like you have a good basis for a kitchen business. In our 30 years we have tried all advertising. We are in a South Bucks village with affluent towns all round us. We find the local approach best, local info mags, local paper, facebook and local social media. just concentrate on building up a good reputation, you might already have that as you have already been trading. It does take a while to get going with a new shop. Decide where you are in the market place and stick to it. If you are not in the Howdens DIY kitchens price range don't try to beat their prices. Inform your customers where you are better, product service etc. tell people to look on mumsnet for reviews of Wren. Try to increase your order value by making sure they buy as much from you that you can provide, not wander off and spend their money on stuff on the internet etc. Agree with above about 3D designs and also give itemised quote so customer can see where they are spending their money. We give our customers a full presentation foc. Final thing, get a good accountant to keep on top of the books and all the employer / cis responsibilities because if you get it wrong it can cost a lot as some businesses we know found out.

Do you think a small showroom will work? With just a couple of displays but still have samples of the other doors I sell. I've also seen a unit on an industrial estate so I'm not sure which would be best that or the small shop. And yes I have the add on products like flooring, socket fronts under cab lights. I can also recommend a couple of decorators so all bases are covered it's just putting the showroom part into practice now. In your experience would you say a showroom its self attracts more people instead of selling from a van. Oh I've also got my local slimming world rep handing flyers out for me to the women who go there .

 

[MBE2017]

Different people will buy from a shop, a direct sales call, advertising etc.

Re read Dory’s line on deciding where you want to be and sticking to it, there will always be someone cheaper, faster, quicker etc. I would also sub contract those decorators to your clients and make extra from their work. If they work for £100 per day charge them out at extra, it is how the world works.

Once you decide where you are in the market you can decide how to pursue and market yourself to those clients.

 

[Lee Oakley]

As the post says I've finally decided to take the plunge and open a kitchen supply showroom!
I've been selling and fitting the kitchens and realised it's impossible to do both so I'm fully committed to the showroom idea.

Any hints and tips would be grateful and any advice.

For the marketing side of things I'm going to be doing flyer drops promoting the opening of the showroom, an article in the local paper, Facebook and I'm also sending letters out weekly to planning applications touting for business all local joiners and kitchen fitters will be getting contacted aswell.

Any thing else I should be doing??

Thanks in advance

Liam

Hi Liam,
First of all, the best of luck in hopefully taking your venture to the next level.

I have a few clients in the kitchen/interiors industry and although my current clients are offering branded furniture I have had clients who went down the PWS route (under their own names), or even made their own furniture and/or doors so I have quite a lot of relevant experience, should you wish to benefit from it.

I think location is obviously a critical factor to your showroom choice as footfall can help no end whilst you are building up the marketing side.

Don't be afraid of local competition, particularly if you can demonstrate superior knowledge, service offering or design skills etc.

As an example, I have a client who sell Nobilia and was terrified when a local Homebase started selling Nobilia a couple of years ago but it actually gave them more footfall and more business because Homebase brought in the targeted traffic and my client could then offer them a far superior service than the sales assistants in Homebase (no disrespect to them) could.

If you want a no obligation consultation so I can offer more specific advice and discuss (in confidence) what has/hasn't worked for my past and present clients I would be happy to help and demonstrate work done, google rankings etc, which you can evaluate for yourself.

I've personally written in excess of a million words on kitchens over the last 10 years and dare say I have a million more ha.

 

[Lee Oakley]

Do you think a small showroom will work?

would you say a showroom its self attracts more people instead of selling from a van.

I think any good display showcasing your design skills and workmanship (even a small one) will do a lot more for your credibility, customer perception and potential business levels than selling from a van.

When people are handing over anything from a couple of thousand upwards people do an unconscious due diligence of the offer in front of them and having a physical showroom and a limited business (in addition to other validation/reassuring signals) goes a long way than than if you were mobile.

 

[sands1967]

DIY kitchens are better than Howdens and a lot cheaper on the real wood vaneer doors also PWS.
Wrens & Magnet kitchen units are only good for fire wood

hi, i'm looking at Howdens currently, what's wrong with their stuff?

i dont know DIY Kitchens, do you mean these guys? https://www.diy-kitchens.com/

 

[Liam-a]

hi, i'm looking at Howdens currently, what's wrong with their stuff?

i dont know DIY Kitchens, do you mean these guys? ]
Hi,
Is there any chance you can email me your plan and let me quote for you?
Regards

 

[Beyond]

hi, i'm looking at Howdens currently, what's wrong with their stuff?

i dont know DIY Kitchens, do you mean these guys?
Yes thats DIY kitchens and there is nothing wrong with Howdens kitchens i sell and fit them all the time but they only sell one real wood kitchen the Tewkesbury but if you want real wood then DIY are a lot lot cheaper then Howdens Tewkesbury

 

[GraemeL]

hi, i'm looking at Howdens currently, what's wrong with their stuff?

i dont know DIY Kitchens, do you mean these guys? https://www.diy-kitchens.com/

Yes that's them. I have fitted a kitchen bought from them and its terrific quality with a huge number of options.
They have various delivery options as well, which matters when assembled carcasses are involved

 

[Dizzybee]

Liam I just wondered how u r doing
I'm opening a bathroom showroom soon and wondered if you have any tips for me. Thanks x

 

[Stedurham]

Bathroom and kitchen showrooms around me are either up for sale or closing be very careful and do your research but a 2k a week you will be closed within a year, unless you have deep pockets

 

[Stedurham]

Dizzy what are your fixed costs a month? One in a town near me is doing 250-300k a year and losing money it was up for sale. I did look at buying it as would have tied in with another business well. How big is space you are looking to rent?
Have you any experience in this field?

 

[Dizzybee]

Hi stedurnham I used to work in a kitchen showroom so have some ideal. My partner is a fitter and fits mainly bathrooms and tiling. He has a tram of 7 fitters so we will provide an in house fitting service and this will provide extra revenue. My showroom is 1000 as ft. My rent us £180 per week Inc all bills and maintenance.

I'm expecting to sell 4 - 5 bathrooms a week to start off with at a minimum of £5k .

 

[Dizzybee]

Yes I've revised my figures as my projections were too low.

 

[Stedurham]

Hi mark out 1000sq ft by time you put an office in have some storage for suites coming in, Stock of basic items used. I don't think this will be big enough to showcase your products might be wrong.
If hes got team of 7 fitting teams you have enough work as he is, do you need extra stress and staff to cover a shop 6 days a week? Most have a large tile displace, lvt area, electrical just spot lights etc, cladding options then the actual bathroom seems small to me

 

[Stedurham]

Bills additional, you will need a card machine, phone line, internet, heating etc. Sounds like you have the experience and definitely got the fitting teams covered, this is hardest part. Just be careful on location, that's the biggest issue

 

[Dory]

Since adding bathrooms into our range they have really gone well - we don't compete with the sheds or online places - we do mid-market but fully designed, fitted, project managed which is what our customers want - as above stick to brands that will support you - we don't have a large showroom area - just a wetroom, family bathroom, modern bathroom, some furniture etc. - offer a complete package with lighting, accessories etc to bump up the order value - be aware of all the rules employing/sub-contracting staff

 

[Dizzybee]

Since adding bathrooms into our range they have really gone well - we don't compete with the sheds or online places - we do mid-market but fully designed, fitted, project managed which is what our customers want - as above stick to brands that will support you - we don't have a large showroom area - just a wetroom, family bathroom, modern bathroom, some furniture etc. - offer a complete package with lighting, accessories etc to bump up the order value - be aware of all the rules employing/sub-contracting staff

Dory thank so much for your input. Finally.. a positive response from someone who is in the business. Please.pm me i'd love to get your valuable input and advice x

 

[Dizzybee]

Bills additional, you will need a card machine, phone line, internet, heating etc. Sounds like you have the experience and definitely got the fitting teams covered, this is hardest part. Just be careful on location, that's the biggest issue

Thanks stedurnham. I really appreciaye all yoir posts you have been very helpful !

 

[Redd]

All the best Liam. Is there a shopping centre you can use rather than a showroom? Pay 4-5k on a decent stand with lots of interactive stuff and samples/brochures etc. Huge footfall.

Other than that then leaflets and Facebook will be the easiest and cheapest way to get in to it.

LinkedIn has also got to be a great shout. Contacting builders etc

Good luck