New kitchen showroom ready to entice retail customers
Howdens says it brings UK mainland prices to Shetland
THE UK’s largest producer of tailor-made kitchen solutions has just opened its new showroom in Lerwick and is hoping for some brisk trade while deals are on offer until 31 October.
Howdens have had a presence in Shetland for the last 12 years, but as a trade-only provider of kitchens has largely been operating below the radar of the wider public.
Local manager Matthew Irving and his small team are determined to change this over coming weeks as they get ready for the company’s Trade Fest promotion drive.
Howdens, which operates close to 900 depots nationwide, offers a wide range of kitchen designs, materials as well as appliances, all at mainland prices.
Ranging in price from as low as £400 to what Matthew describes as the “real showstoppers” in the £20,000 to £30,000 price brackets, customers can tailor their dream kitchen to suit every taste and every budget.
Matthew recalls that in the past islanders often had to travel to the UK mainland to find the kitchen they desired at a price they could afford.
“So, we decided to bring the deals to them,” he says, “and subsequently it just took off”.
The company’s new showroom at Gremista House, at the back of JW Gray’s, has just been opened following a £60,000 refurbishment. It now gives a first taster of what the company has on offer.
Matthew emphasises that Howdens primarily serves the trade but also accommodates retail customers through their trade-only policy.
Howdens’ staff design the kitchen and then pass on the plans for installation to a local joiner who must hold an account with the company.
‘Trade Fest runs from September to the end of October. It is the best time to buy a new kitchen.’
He stresses that the design process is free of charge and emphasises the company’s no callback policy.
So how does it all work? “We’d come out, do all the measurements, and get your ideas,” Matthew explains.
“We would put our input in as well, but ultimately, you’re the boss. You’re the homeowner, it’s your kitchen.
“Then we come back here, we draw up the kitchen and send it out to you. We then ask you to come back and see us, and we’ll tell you this is how much it’s going to cost, this is how you could save money. Do you like the design? Do you need us to change it?
“Once you’re happy with the design and, ultimately, you’re happy with the price, you need a joiner to fit the kitchen. But most people will have a joiner already lined up.”
A typical realistic timeframe for a kitchen design and delivery is around three weeks, Irving explains, but the turnaround could be as quick as 24 hours if need be.
Explaining the company’s no callback policy, he adds: “If something hasn’t worked properly, or there’s something that has gone wrong, we don’t argue, we just replace it.
“Arguing is not going to solve the problem. Howdens is big enough to have that policy in place.”
Matthew adds: “Trade Fest runs from September to the end of October. It is the best time to buy a new kitchen as there will be savings throughout the whole range of kitchen that Howdens offers.
“It’s not just one kitchen that has a good saving; it’s all the kitchens. We can offer bigger savings because of the number of kitchens that go through nationwide. And it’s all made in the UK.”
The Howdens showroom is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm, and Saturdays by appointment.
Gremista House, Gremista Industrial Estate, Lerwick, e-mail: shetland@howdens.com Web: www.howdens.com
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