Stephen Johnson: “Some kitchen retailers can be a fickle breed”

Managing director of Quooker UK, Stephen Johnson has shown his frustration with kitchen retailers who don’t show manufacturer loyalty, lashing out: “Unfortunately, some kitchen retailers can be a fickle breed. They are very quick to say they want more support and service. But when they do get that, they don’t always recognise and reward it.”

Johnson explained: "What I mean by that, there may be a supplier who comes out with a new tap and it'll go into a showroom, where you've offered them a free display, five years of service and thousands of pounds in support."

He said he had a display given free to a showroom, whom he long-standing relationship with, taken out and replaced with a competitors. He said he hadn't been told the showroom had removed it, until he paid a visit.

"Providing we continue to offer a service and ensure the product is at the cutting edge of where it needs to be, and invest in that dealer, they should recognise and reward you with a significant level of their business", says Johnson

He continued: “We’re here to work hard for our dealers but what I don’t think is that some of them give you that loyalty back. They want the service from us and the quid pro quo is we want the business from them.”

Johnson added: "A number of kitchen dealers are obsessed with everything. I think some of them are guilty of stocking too much product."

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