Kitchen showroom
Discussion
Hi all,
I've Been reading several posts (years old) about people setting up kitchen showrooms. I my self sell and fit my own kitchens currently buy the doors and units in but I'm wanting to lease a workshop and make my own units there and also have a couple of displays in there.
I'm looking for any advice people may have to offer and also any advertising/marketing strategies.
I'm presuming a showroom/workshop would be easier than selling from brochures and swatches and would also generate me more work as customers have a place they can go and see the kitchens.
Thanks in advance
Liam
I've Been reading several posts (years old) about people setting up kitchen showrooms. I my self sell and fit my own kitchens currently buy the doors and units in but I'm wanting to lease a workshop and make my own units there and also have a couple of displays in there.
I'm looking for any advice people may have to offer and also any advertising/marketing strategies.
I'm presuming a showroom/workshop would be easier than selling from brochures and swatches and would also generate me more work as customers have a place they can go and see the kitchens.
Thanks in advance
Liam
Hello, what are you trying to achieve by this, growth in T/O and margin?
If you are making, that will take a lot of time, and is a huge change in direction from where you are now in resale and fitting.
A dual use facility is doable, but a showroom of yours will be awkward unless you staff it, restrict opening times...you can't just pop out the workshop and see someone, then forget where you are making something.
Would it be better to make some high end stuff, at a premium, features etc that stood apart from others and get some killer pictures from installs.
You can go into Chalon etc etc and pay 50k at least...has to be some good margin in it if you have right kit, and good skills.
If you are making, that will take a lot of time, and is a huge change in direction from where you are now in resale and fitting.
A dual use facility is doable, but a showroom of yours will be awkward unless you staff it, restrict opening times...you can't just pop out the workshop and see someone, then forget where you are making something.
Would it be better to make some high end stuff, at a premium, features etc that stood apart from others and get some killer pictures from installs.
You can go into Chalon etc etc and pay 50k at least...has to be some good margin in it if you have right kit, and good skills.
Thanks for the reply much appreciated.
Yes my aim is to obviously make the units for the kitchens that I sell and to supply local shops as well. I was going to employ someone to be front of house enabling me to stay in the back making the units. The unit I've seen is on an industrial estate in the middle of 7 towns so plenty of customers to attract and the rent is £614.00 a month so not expensive.
I would be happy supplying 1 a week of my own full kitchens anything over that is a bonus for now. Once my machinery is upgraded I'll be looking at expanding and pushing sales alot more than this. Fitting will be subbed out once enough work is coming in
Cheers
Yes my aim is to obviously make the units for the kitchens that I sell and to supply local shops as well. I was going to employ someone to be front of house enabling me to stay in the back making the units. The unit I've seen is on an industrial estate in the middle of 7 towns so plenty of customers to attract and the rent is £614.00 a month so not expensive.
I would be happy supplying 1 a week of my own full kitchens anything over that is a bonus for now. Once my machinery is upgraded I'll be looking at expanding and pushing sales alot more than this. Fitting will be subbed out once enough work is coming in
Cheers
I have a bespoke furniture design and manufacturing workshop and a seperate kitchen showrooms.
We build high end timber furniture for the bespoke side and we buy in standard chipboard cabinets and various doors for the kitchen side - either seperates or complete cabinets.
We have considered building our own cabinets but its just not worth it - holding the raw stock, maintaining the machines, labour to work the machines etc.
My wife runs the showroom - and it can be a massive pain having to have it open all the time. I now share my time between running the showroom and building the bespoke furniture. Luckily i have a great team that i trust in the workshop ran by one of my old apprentices.
If i had my time again I probably wouldnt open the showroom - yes it works as a business but its a lot more effort than anticipated.
Also we started to find it a race to the bottom - people getting 4+ quotes from various suppliers and playing you all off against each other.
We have now dropped the basic ‘shed’ equivalent kitchens and only supply the higher end products, which has reduced our wasted time greatly - we now have a 50% return to quotes out. The bespoke side is over 90% though.
We have just had the say on a huge project for approx 24months on and off starting 2019 so the workis definitely still out there.
You wont be able to do it alone.
We build high end timber furniture for the bespoke side and we buy in standard chipboard cabinets and various doors for the kitchen side - either seperates or complete cabinets.
We have considered building our own cabinets but its just not worth it - holding the raw stock, maintaining the machines, labour to work the machines etc.
My wife runs the showroom - and it can be a massive pain having to have it open all the time. I now share my time between running the showroom and building the bespoke furniture. Luckily i have a great team that i trust in the workshop ran by one of my old apprentices.
If i had my time again I probably wouldnt open the showroom - yes it works as a business but its a lot more effort than anticipated.
Also we started to find it a race to the bottom - people getting 4+ quotes from various suppliers and playing you all off against each other.
We have now dropped the basic ‘shed’ equivalent kitchens and only supply the higher end products, which has reduced our wasted time greatly - we now have a 50% return to quotes out. The bespoke side is over 90% though.
We have just had the say on a huge project for approx 24months on and off starting 2019 so the workis definitely still out there.
You wont be able to do it alone.
We sell a lot to builders, joiners etc for them to fit and do occasionally sub out installation.
Generally though i ise my own team.
Every kitchen/bedroom we fit ourselves is fine and rarely is anything missing or damaged.
Over half that get fitted by others have something wrong - something damaged, something missing etc.
You can guarantee, and you know because its obvious sometimes, that they have used the wrong panel or cut something wrong or even drilled a door upside down and then skipped it.
But its easier to just get them another foc than argue the point
Generally though i ise my own team.
Every kitchen/bedroom we fit ourselves is fine and rarely is anything missing or damaged.
Over half that get fitted by others have something wrong - something damaged, something missing etc.
You can guarantee, and you know because its obvious sometimes, that they have used the wrong panel or cut something wrong or even drilled a door upside down and then skipped it.
But its easier to just get them another foc than argue the point
Blakeatron said:
Also we started to find it a race to the bottom - people getting 4+ quotes from various suppliers and playing you all off against each other.
Good for you. I once appointed a builder for a whole load of stuff simply because when I tried to argue his price down he made it clear he'd rather walk away from the job than compromise on quality.Sorry for the late reply it wouldn't let me post yesterday.
Round where I am there's not much call for high end stuff for eg I quoted a job the other day which came out at 5k and she wants it down to 4k!
Although if I can advertise high end stuff over in the more expensive areas I think there would be business there. I've never actually made units or doors out of solid timber so that would be a first for me. Also I wouldn't know where or what products to buy in to make them??
The products that sell round here are the mfc carcass with MDF wrapped doors occasionally I get a customer wanting solid doors but I just buy them in.
Blaketron I've been looking at your website's your showroom looks amazing I must say. Can I ask what you do for advertising or did do when you first set up.
Cheers
Round where I am there's not much call for high end stuff for eg I quoted a job the other day which came out at 5k and she wants it down to 4k!
Although if I can advertise high end stuff over in the more expensive areas I think there would be business there. I've never actually made units or doors out of solid timber so that would be a first for me. Also I wouldn't know where or what products to buy in to make them??
The products that sell round here are the mfc carcass with MDF wrapped doors occasionally I get a customer wanting solid doors but I just buy them in.
Blaketron I've been looking at your website's your showroom looks amazing I must say. Can I ask what you do for advertising or did do when you first set up.
Cheers
Showroom has changed significantly recently, got to keep on top of trends- another cost!
I had already had the bespoke furniture business for 10+years so had a large database of contact details.
So we basically had a massive 2 day bender/party/opening do.
Then we did use local radio until they were bought out by a national.
We are now doing royal mail drops and facebook/instagram etc - nowhere near as good but i am struggling with which way to go next
I had already had the bespoke furniture business for 10+years so had a large database of contact details.
So we basically had a massive 2 day bender/party/opening do.
Then we did use local radio until they were bought out by a national.
We are now doing royal mail drops and facebook/instagram etc - nowhere near as good but i am struggling with which way to go next
Thats where I'm struggling on how to drum up more business. I've no idea when it comes to advertising and marketing I'm still learning in that area. How's the flyers working for you ??
Do you think the showroom generates alot more business than say if you sold them through your workshop?
Do you think the showroom generates alot more business than say if you sold them through your workshop?
I used to fix CNC woodworking machines so got to see a lot of the kitchen companies. Small units with a showroom invariably looked a bit like a storeroom with some dusty units in. Think no ‘kitchen’ ceiling, concrete floor, cold, poor lighting, cheap white goods like a partially fitted oven, dirty toilets etc. Very few were welcoming to a customer.
Better showrooms obviously at places like System 6, their showroom was mint. Then you’re up to your Ultimas, Ashley Ann and so on. I did hear a rumour some of the Wren showrooms were a million plus. That’s what you’re up against.
It’s got to be a place you are going to do a sale in so don’t expect it to be cheap. Might be worth dropping in to see a few before committing.
The ones I thought best had few carcasses but almost forensic levels of detail on what made their cabinet quality - build details, joint construction, fittings like Blum etc.
And if it’s a second business property you will be paying the full business rates.
Better showrooms obviously at places like System 6, their showroom was mint. Then you’re up to your Ultimas, Ashley Ann and so on. I did hear a rumour some of the Wren showrooms were a million plus. That’s what you’re up against.
It’s got to be a place you are going to do a sale in so don’t expect it to be cheap. Might be worth dropping in to see a few before committing.
The ones I thought best had few carcasses but almost forensic levels of detail on what made their cabinet quality - build details, joint construction, fittings like Blum etc.
And if it’s a second business property you will be paying the full business rates.
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