Why do people use DIY stores and big Companies before local business

CTN Interiors

4 years ago

no specific as to "a kitchen Designer"

Sales tatics

pressure selling

selling products that make the most profit

Quality of the products

After sale service

Installation

Featured Answer

PRO

Lifestyle Kitchens

4 years ago

I think a lot of independant's put people off from going inside their showrooms because their window dispalys can look really expensive so the 'passing trade' automatically think that the kitchens are out of their price range, then they use words like bespoke, custom made etc and this also makes it sound overly expensive.

The irony is that most independants have kitchens to cater for most price ranges and offer a far superior product and are more likely to negotiate a deal, they're more customer focused and offer a better service than the sell and forget big stores sales people, as a lot of their business is generated from recommendations. They create a far better design as they have more flexibility over cabinet sizes, more choice of colours, better quality ironmongery and internal pull outs.

My experience has been when i've been given the chance to offer a 'like for like' price against one of the 'sheds' i've been able to match their price and then i've re designed it so its actually the kitchen the customer wants and not what the previous salesperson has said they can have.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (10)

Ellie
4 years ago
'local businesses' make it sound like there is always a store closer to your home...... its not always the case. There are large DIY stores closer to me than any independent businesses so that is why I would go to them first.

I did go to an independent kitchen showroom and their price was a lot more than the large DIY store - I know that may not always be the case, but they couldnt compete.
CTN Interiors thanked Ellie
PRO
CTN Interiors
Original Author
4 years ago
depends on where you live Ellie, and the quality of the kitchen you are after. having worked for them all, ie large stores, I am surprised that was the case?
Related Discussions
Which frames for above the bed?
Q
Comments (103)
Hi snan - to address your questions: 1 - yes, the lamps work very well. With regard to the height of the larger lamps: do you know how high they would be? If the bottom of the lampshade is even with the top of the pillows that should work. If they are taller than that I think you will be okay with the smaller lamps. Look back again at some of the pictures above to see what I mean. The thing that will look odd would be if the top of the lamps were taller than your headboard. The idea is that when you are in bed reading a book that you want the light to be able to reflect down. As far as the lampshade size goes on the smaller lamps I'm thinking the shorter ones since they don't seem to drop down as far as the larger ones. 2 & 3-Definitely chair by the mirrored bedside locker with one white locker on the other side. Without question. The chair to the left of the bed gave the room life. Use the extra white one in a closet or another room. You don't want to overcrowd your room when you are going for a tranquil setting. 4-Absolutely okay to have bedside tables that don't match and look good in the room. Whether or not you like that is a personal preference though. I would only put the mirrored one next to the bed though if you have the chair next to it. It's how they play off each other that makes it work. If you don't keep the chair next to the bed then I would use both white tables beside the bed. It is also fine that the pictures are off-centre to the wall as long as they are centered to the bed. :)
...See More
Help me choose a bed for guest room
Q
Comments (30)
Melissa, when I said footboard, I meant this. It has a portion of the bed that extends beyond the mattress edge. You posted a bed that had something at the foot section of the bed. By platform, I mean a bed that has a hard area and only a mattress on it. Like this. It does not extend beyond the edge of the mattress, but does not have a box spring. It is also lower to the ground. The picture you posted was a high profile bed and box spring. It was not on a typical bed frame. A standard bed frame, used with box spring and mattress looks like this. Virtually invisible and does not extend out beyond the mattress/box spring set. That being said, I'd recommend you get a headboard that is not too big for your space. Neither in height or depth (distance from the wall). I would also not get a mattress frame that extends beyond the size of the mattress. Sorry to have not been clear before.
...See More
Advice on colours to bring a room together
Q
Comments (24)
Susiem14, I think this room looks lovely and cosy and like your fireplace. I would add a few bits in cream and fawn/grey. Please don't be offended by the comment above... Everybody is different and we all have different budgets! I have recently changed my lounge to be neutral tones - still working on the cushions but sending you a photo of my new rug - was from Dunelm Mill - not expensive at all but v pleased with it.
...See More
need some kitchen design help!
Q
Comments (11)
I love the tall units but you need to go straight to the ceiling to prevent dust and dirt settling on the top. I would put a row of small up and over cupboards along the very top as an option. Very handy for unsightly bulky items. I don't like the end open shelves by sink very dated but what you could do is a long double shelf all the way along the island with a wine racking either side for balance vertically. I think shelving each side of the sink would be better. You have a lot of cupboards but no deep drawers which are highly valued these days. Good selling point. I Like your colour suggestions... The little Greene paint company have a lovely grey so does farrow and ball. Where are you sourcing your Quartz and what flooring? Do your ovens have easy open shelf doors ..handy as they retract so don't get in the way as you take food out..Neff offer best ones. If you want a better balance of tall you could always do fridge freezer one side and pull out pantry on the other with racking. Then on sink side don't go all the way along the wall just have it as centred space so you can pull out larder doors. On your island you will need your bin as this'll be prep area? What is the room opposite tall cupboards? Need the island to look good from that side as that is what you will see. Hope of help. I'm embarking on the same thing and have spent hours and hours researching!
...See More
Daisy England
4 years ago
They use bigger stores because they wrongly think major companies purchase in bulk and therefore offer lower prices. That isn’t the case In my experience.
CTN Interiors thanked Daisy England
Daisy England
4 years ago
Totally agree Lifestyle Kitchens.
Jonathan
4 years ago
For me I think the Sheds drive prices down between themselves but at the expense of quality design, taste and service.
That’s where the independents win..... true some of them have only a higher priced product but not all- great design can make an inexpensive product look very high end.
Jonathan
4 years ago
Oh.... and their £5 million advertising budget helps too
CTN Interiors thanked Jonathan
PRO
OnePlan
4 years ago
Oh to have an advertising budget !!! ( thankfully most of our clients come from recommendations )

We don’t sell Kitchens but we do design them... so people can shop around and compare on a like for like basis . The logic behind it is that people want to compare, they want to be involved in the design and they want to get a great deal.

We actively encourage all of our clients to approach both big and small companies - not just to approach one or two .

If any independents want to be added to our growing list of those who offer a discount to clients with OnePlan designs - please get in touch, ( add a link to your website to us and we’ll add you to ours ) - this could be beneficial to you as retailers and to the clients as purchasers !
CTN Interiors thanked OnePlan
rinked
4 years ago
Being the only employee at a kitchen store (just me and the owner), we get the fun customers. They look for good design, quality, service, a listening ear, etc. No hard sale strategies, but attention and detail. And as we don't do any advertising and have a small showroom, we can sell proper quality for a good price too! And we're busy as hell at the moment!
joelyn npamplin
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
Perhaps people see ads for these DIY stores much more often than posts by local sellers, you know. That's why their sales are higher than others. In addition, it's always important to understand advertising in such a small business. You need to understand which audience is interested in buying your products and which one will pass by and not even look at the product photos. I had my little shop once. I kept it on my website. The site traffic pleased me. But when sales began to decline, I had to turn to a financial consultant from https://www.antonybatty.com. I'd have lost my clients and business if it weren't for this specialist.

Why do people use DIY stores and big Companies before local business

Lifestyle Kitchens

Comments (10)

Ellie

CTN Interiors
Original Author

Related Discussions

Daisy England

Daisy England

Jonathan

Jonathan

OnePlan

rinked

joelyn npamplin

COMPANY

EXPLORE HOUZZ

CONNECT WITH US

Why do people use DIY stores and big Companies before local business

Comments (10)

CTN InteriorsOriginal Author

Related Discussions

COMPANY

EXPLORE HOUZZ

CONNECT WITH US

CTN Interiors
Original Author