Claygate invests £100,000 in training centre

 



Claygate Distribution premises in Marden, Kent



Claygate Distribution based in Marden, Kent, has invested over £100,000 in a new training centre for retail customers and its staff, to improve their product knowledge.

The training centre features over 100 products spanning mirrors, furniture, brassware and sanitaryware from a range of manufacturers including VitrA, Roca and Hudson Reed and will host bi-monthly courses.

These courses will cover generic product knowledge including underfloor heating, wetrooms, pumps and whirlpools, as well as manufacturer specific.

According to Andrew Streek, who owns the company along with his brother Mel: “Our customers benefit by having a sharper liaison with our sales team and hopefully we benefit from increased sales.”

Mel Streek added: “It will also help customer services team. If a customer rings up and says they have a problem with a product, our customer services team can now go over to the centre and have a look at the product. They can see what the customer is referring to and understand what the problem is.”

However, Claygate Distribution sees the training centre educating all staff members, throughout the business.

Mel Streek continued: “The new training centre will benefit Claygate because we are always growing and our new staff need training on the products, as well as keeping our current staff up-to-date.”

And Andrew Streek added: “It will [also] benefit the warehouse team because they will understand better how to handle the boxes as they will know what is in them.”

Claygate Distribution invested £8.5million into its site in 2008 and has recently received planning permission to build another 30,000 square foot building next year. 

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MFI bathrooms back: kitchens too complex

Albach bathroom suite

Home improvement retailer MFI has bounced back, after three years not trading, as an online retailer offering living, home office and dining room furniture, as well as nine bathroom collections.
Commercial director of MFI, Adrian Storr: "It's just a start for us as we need to get our product offer off the ground".
But the brand, which was synonymous with kitchens, has made the decision not to sell any.
It believes that to restore consumer confidence in the retail brand, following its administration and before the name was acquired by Walker Capital, it must focus on customer service. And the customer issues which dogged MFI were likely to be its kitchen sales.

Commercial director of MFI, Adrian Storr explained: “If you look at the issues that were in MFI previously, from a customer service and delivery point of view, they tended to be around the kitchen category. We shouldn’t underestimate how complex that is; to be able deliver a complete kitchen to a customer. There are about 250 separate components [in a kitchen sale] and if you’ve got one of those components missing, it could be that you can’t go ahead with your kitchen. And, obviously, it’s a big disruption to a household, not to have a functioning kitchen. It becomes very emotional and obviously that’s why it becomes very detrimental to the retailer that can’t deliver to what they’ve promised to the customer.”

Storr continued: “The furniture that we’re focusing on is predominantly a centre floor product and we had a very good service and reputation on this type of product. [MFI] was probably tainted by the complexity of the kitchen proposition.”

The home improvement company has now developed a five-stage checking process, with its 20 suppliers, to ensure deliveries are met for when consumers requested them.

However, MFI is not ruling out the opportunity of expanding into kitchens, as Storr said: “It’s not something that we’ve completely dismissed but my guidance is we only do it when it’s absolutely 100% robust.”
Although MFI has only just relaunched, the website had  hundreds of hits "and heading to a thousand", at 10.00am on the day of its launch.

MFI returns with online offer

Home improvement brand MFI is set to return to the market as an online offer for bathroom, bedroom and home office furnishings. However, kitchens will not play a part in the portfolio.

The MFI brand was bought by Walker Capital, a private company which owns online and mail order bathroom retailer Victoria Plumb, in 2010. The management team, led by commercial director Adrian Storr who has 15 years’ experience in retail (including nine years at MFI), has taken two years to re-launch the MFI brand as an online offer.

It aims to provide ‘high quality luxurious and affordable home furnishings, with a first-class customer service’.

MFI has developed a service which allows the consumer to stipulate “a preferred delivery date when the order is made” and order tracking “to ensure customers receive the product they want at the time they’ve requested”.

A statement about the launch of online MFI read: “By launching a recognised brand free from legacy business they have developed unique systems taking all the best features from the market whilst learning from the mistakes of others.”

Scholtes shock UK exit

Premium appliance brand Scholtes has pulled out of the UK with immediate effect, leaving around 45-50 retailers in the lurch.

The announcement has left the industry shocked and bemused by its timing as it follows just four weeks after the opening of its Centre of Excellence on Wigmore Street in central London.

Adam Woolf, marketing director of the Indesit Company, commented: “Scholtès is pulling out of the UK and will not return for the foreseeable future.”

He added: “The company is committed to maintaining a significant investment in the built-in market by innovating in new products, unique design and advertising. However, to ensure that our customers and consumers fully benefit from our developments, we have decided to channel our investments into our high end LUCE by Hotpoint brand, which is gaining rapid momentum in the market place.

According to Woolf: "A couple of years ago when we launched Scholtes, we also brought another brand into the market place called LUCE by Hotpoint. Both these brands were brought into the market place really off the back of a time which was quite a strong economic growth. And as you know, the market has changed and is probably going to be what it is for the foreseeable future.

"We felt it was the right decision to focus our investment on the LUCE brand which is by Hotpoint, as oppose to Scholtes. What we have seen is LUCE has gained phenomenal momentum in the market place, it has really captured the kitchen studios and kitchen specialists imagination. And it is already far bigger than Scholtes."

Jason Verdi of Verdi Kitchens in Croydon is a Scholtes centre, with 12 working appliance displays, and was stunned when he found out about the appliance brand withdrawal: “We’ve invested into it quite heavily. We’ve advertised and just spend £4,000 on leaflets. I just couldn’t believe it when the rep phoned me”.

Ray cooper of Freestyle in Worthing has nine Scholtes displays across two showrooms: “We’ve cut into granite tops, Corian etc to make way for the unusual size that some of their products are. We did quite a good deal with the product, itself, but it’s the fitting of displays. The on-going cost of replacing those displays, including repairing worksurfaces, will run into thousands.” 

Kitchen retailers are dismayed about the short notice of the withdrawal.

Jason Verdi says parent company of Scholtes, the Indesit Company should have informed the retailers before the decision was taken: “Before it even happened they should have got hold of the retailers and said ‘what we’re doing is pulling out of the UK but we’re going to make it a smooth transition through. From a business point of view, I don’t know why they did it. All they say that Italy in the economic climate just pulled the plug.”

Ray Cooper said: “We’re a bit up in the air at the moment. I spoke to their business development manager and also one of the reps. I’ve been told that I’m going to get the products that I’ve already got on order but they are not sure what’s happening with the displays. It leaves us in the lurch because I’ve got products on display, which I can’t sell. I don’t know what I can do with them. I’m very disappointed at the short notice. I was notified by VZUG.”

He added: “They’ve intimated to me that they might be a deal on the table to replace it with some Hotpoint”.

But Verdi commented: “I’m half tempted just to tell them all to sod off, to be honest. We always want to work with people who want to work with us. It’s not a case of it goes on the shop floor, we get it in cheap and we sell it out 4-5 weeks later and we make a packet on the appliance. We’ve got a kitchen going in January with six of [Scholtes] pieces in.”

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Silver celebrations for Mereway Kitchens

Celebrating its 25^th anniversary, kitchen furniture manufacturer Mereway has taken this time to refocus on strengthening its Mereway Kitchens brand and invested in a showroom, at its head office in Birmingham.

All three of its collections – English Revival, Cucina Colore and the Complete Kitchen Collection, will now all be marketed as part of the Mereway Kitchens portfolio.

Mereway Kitchen showroom launched
as part of 25th anniversary celebrations

Sales and marketing director of Mereway, Graham Jones comments: “in some senses, until now we have been hiding our light under the proverbial bushel.” He continued: “We believe that it’s time for Mereway Kitchens to raise our profile, claiming well-deserved recognition for being British-made, hand-crafted kitchens of quality, backed by commitment to outstanding customer service”.

Mereway plans to market its brand under the theme ‘Live Life the Mereway, with a series of lifestyle images and ‘stories’, linking Mereway with inspirational products, quality, service and ‘exceptional customer experience’.  Jones added: “Those who know Mereway well understand our values, but a re-focus on our brand with a powerful marketing campaign, will enable us to communicate those values to a wider audience and take our rightful position in the marketplace.”

In addition, Mereway is also set to introduce a range Trend Interiors, formerly Trend Joinery, which will be repositioned as a ‘quality kitchen at a more affordable price.”

Its head office now features a showroom with 13 fully-equipped displays for its Mereway Kitchens, and a separate display showcase for its Trend Interiors range.

Ring in the changes?

Philippa Turrell,
Editor of Kitchens & Bathrooms News

Okay, admit it. Who stole 2011? One minute I remember opening credit card statements with the presents from Christmas 2010, and the next thing thumbing through Thomas Cook brochures. Now the ‘holidays are coming’ Coke ads are back on TV, one of the Nolans is trying to sell me a ‘buy-now-pay later’ Christmas catalogue and Iceland Stacey (didn’t she used to be a singer?) is driving home to Dagenham for a frozen food buffet. Is it just me or has the past 12 months passed at supersonic speed?

Although as fleeting as 2011 seemed, it has made its impact on the kitchen and bathroom industry. We’ve bid farewell to some familiar industry faces and witnessed the fall of recognisable high street retail names – Johnson & Johnson, Focus, Moben and Dolphin. We’ve talked, mused, digested and even protested about the kitchen and bathroom industry – often coming back to that one dreaded topic, the Internet!

But in these shifting sands, it’s perhaps comforting that it’s not all out with the old and in with the new. There is still a question mark over Bathstore’s destiny, Lechner and Keramag have both returned to the UK. OURS Sanitaryware has acquired a former Ideal Standard factory and already begun to employ. And as we go to press, rumblings at the rumour mill suggest we may even see another familiar face return to the fold. Although an official announcement has yet to be made, the MFI brand may be set to return as an online offer. Although a spokesperson for the company did confirm there will be no kitchens sold, the company could offer bathrooms. If MFI has a focus on moving boxes, more than in-store service, could it bring life back to the brand and see further pressure placed on the high street retailer? Could the end of 2011 signal a time for ringing the changes – with needs for all kbb retailers to embrace internet sales - or is it just the case of same old name, same old business?

With all this interest in the UK market, perhaps it means the worst of the recession (at least in our country) is over. While industry experts predict there may still be tough times ahead, could it actually suggest things won’t get any worse? Well, I for one will raise a glass to that.

Scholtés opens Centre of Excellence



Showroom based on central theme of 'Primitive Future'



Award-winning designer Patricia Urquiola has created the Centre of Excellence in London for premium appliance brand Scholtés. The 300sqm space situated in the famed area for kitchens Wigmore Street, in Central London, spans across two floors. 

It has been designed to have three distinct uses; as a showcase for appliances, training and workshop area for live cooking demonstrations and tastings, and even an exclusive restaurant for private dining.

Patricia Urquiola commented: “The concept was to do a space for giving services, which is the kitchen, a live place [for cookery demonstrations and private dining] and the showroom, just to display the items but in a way that was not a fake kitchen.”

It’s not only the use but the styling of the showroom that sets it apart from traditional kitchen or appliance studios. Based upon a 600 x 600mm module, the same dimensions as a Scholtés oven, the showroom is themed upon the core idea of ‘Primitive Future’, a deconstruction of a typical environment to re-interpret how retailers and consumers interact and understand appliances in a studio.



Working kitchen for cookery demos
or private dining experiences

Certainly the raw but welcoming experience focuses the mind on the look and uses of the Scholtés appliances. It features copper walls, throughout, with smooth wooden display area for the appliances on the ground floor. This is complemented by a textured wood kitchen, in the basement, designed to be used either as workstations for cookery demonstrations and training, or as a private dining area.

Roca Jump the Gap Winner

Michal Warykiewicz from Poland, has been announced as the winner of the 4^th edition of the Roca Jump the Gap competition for his ‘In & Out’ shower concept.

The award, presented at the recently opened London Roca Gallery, was announced by famed architect Ron Arad who headed up the jury of design and architecture personalities.

The concept creates an exterior and interior shower, built on top of a circular base, with two columns and fixed semicircular glass screens. The shower rotates 180 degrees, transforming bathroom shower mode to garden shower mode. The exterior option provides a shower in the garden, while the indoor mode ensures privacy through the activation of liquid crystals to make the glass opaque.

Warykiewicz’s ‘In & Out’ shower concept was chosen as the winning design from a short list of 30 projects, and he will receive a trophy, as well as 5,000 euros.

Plans for the 5^th Edition of Jump the Gap is currently underway, with the official launch planned for September 2012.

The competition was launched at 100% Design in 2010 and received 3004 entries from 92 countries.

Things that make you go mmmm…

Editorial Assistant Britta O'Boyle takes her pick from the high fashion interior show, that is, 100% Design

Contemporary interiors exhibition 100% Design always manages to showcase something a little daring, edgy, and potentially price prohibitive. Even during these tough economic times, there was no exception to this rule. In fact the talking point of the Capital’s cutting-edge interior show was ‘the world’s most expensive kitchen’ (allegedly). This claimed many national news and blog headlines, so it's such a shame that kitchens had very little representation - with only two suppliers to view. In fact, the show could easily have benefitted from more bathroom suppliers too, with just a handful taking the chance to exhibit. But those who did take space, at 100% Design, displayed some very desirable designs. After all, what else would you expect from a show that 'interviews' its exhibitors and rejects those that don't quite make the mark? 

We’ve hand-picked 'six of the best' kitchen and bathroom exhibitors, at the show, which we think could tempt designers’ taste buds and their clients wallets!

PRICE IS RIGHT: Marazzi teamed up with Sub Zero and Wolf appliances to display the world’s most expensive kitchen, costing around £300,000. The limited edition Coloesseo Oron kitchen is one in a series of ten ‘no expense spared’ kitchens. Designers can choose from 24 carat gold leaf, crocodile embossed leather, metallic gloss chameleon lacquers, Swarovski crystal lights and Venetian inked stained gold glass finishes.

STEEL APPEAL: Componendo showcased selected console units from its collection of stainless steel bathroom furniture. All the products are bespoke, with the surface of the steel protected with a treatment against finger prints and water residue. Venti (shown) is available with a choice of six basins from flush-welded steel to inset Corian or freestanding glass and a choice of glass top and optional lacquered finishes.

MUSIC SOUNDS BETTER WITH YOU: The Touch Multi-Media Shower (MMS) from VADO took centre-stage of its stand. The Touch MMS takes certainly showering one step further with features including MP3 player input, speakers, and illuminated multi-function showerhead. It was joined by a range of mid-market taps and shower valves.

SO SOLID CREW: Adding to its Brionne solid surfacing range, Hanex introduced two new patented effects, featuring clear acrylic chips in the solid surface. Helsinki and Olso bring the total number of solid surfacing to 12, in a palette of 100 designs. The Hanex palette offers finishes including plain colours, sparkling and natural stones, as well as translucent finishes which can be back lit.

BREAKING THE BORDER: Twyford Bathrooms showed its Moda Rimfree WC, which it claimed to be the first rimless WC for the domestic market. It is designed to be ultra-hygienic and easy to clean, as there is no rim for germs to hide. It features self-draining jets at the back of the bowl to release water which flows around the entire inside of the pan and operates with a 4/2.6 litre flush.

FRENCH CONNECTION: Swedish supplier Stalson introduced the Paris range of taps made from stainless steel and designed by Simon Gourde. The taps comes in large or small versions and in a choice of mirror polished or matt brushed finishes. Paris brassware also comes with water-saving aerator nozzles.

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