Magnet, Foleshill Road

The showroom was having a re-fit when I visited and a new lime green kitchen in the window caught my eye.
Branch manager Tony Richardson explained that they were creating the kitchen featured on the cover of the current brochure.
When I asked him about Magnet's customer service he said: "Think of it like a jigsaw. You dig into the box and find the four corner pieces, in other words the budget you want to spend, the appliances you want, the level of service you require from us and the door style. We will then do a site visit and at that stage put together the four sides of the jigsaw. Then you come back into the showroom and we fill in the rest of the puzzle together."

Score: 7/10
Smart showroom with helpful, friendly service

Coventry Tiles & Bathrooms of Distinction, Foleshill Road

Across the road from Magnet, this gleaming showroom had a comprehensive tile section and a good selection of suites from the likes of Roca and Sottini.
I was the only customer in the shop and wandered around all the displays including the upstairs bathroom furniture section. As no-one had approached me I asked if they provided an installation service. I was told they didn't but was handed a card for a recommended fitter. This was the perfect opportunity to ask if someone could help with the order. Instead the salesman turned back to his computer and I left the shop.

Score: 6/10
Impressive showroom but should try a lot harder to clinch a sale

Archways Bathrooms, Spon End

This impressive showroom is the specialist bathroom division of Builders Supply Stores.
The company has made the most of its modern, spacious setting with displays of white suites against vibrant pink, green and blue walls. Strong window displays, including a walk-in shower and a Sottini suite 'complete for £450', would attract passing customers.
"There are two ways we can help you," the sales assistant at a desk by the door said. "Either bring the dimensions in and we will work out a plan with you. Or we can come to your home and measure up. We don't have our own fitters but we do have teams we can recommend. Then we can point you in the direction of the best fitter for the job."

Score: 7/10
A bright, modern showroom

Splashout, Norman Place Road

I found this compact bathroom showroom in a parade of shops in a residential area.
Although space is limited, best use had been made of it with a selection of suites on the floor and lights and mirrored cabinets on the walls. However the presentation was tired with a grubby carpet and various patches on the walls where display items had obviously been removed.
The saleswoman was at the rear of the showroom on the phone to a customer. As she was sitting with her back to the door she didn't register my entrance so I wandered around and then left. It's always tricky to attend to customers when you're on the phone, but by facing the door you can at least acknowledge their presence.

Score: 5/10
Good use of a small space let down by poor presentation

City Bathrooms Kitchens & Bedrooms, Longford Road

It would be pretty hard to miss the big blue and white sign on the side of this showroom, but if you do there are further banners out on the pavement.
 My first impression that this was a small outlet was soon dispelled as I found myself wandering through a warren of rooms featuring everything from fitted kitchens and bedrooms to frameless glass shower enclosures and tiles.
There are neat room displays showing exactly what you can fit in a standard bathroom and a collection of top of the range whirlpoool baths in  a bright conservatory at the back. Bob Peters showed me round and said, "We can do everything from a £199 suite up. No matter what your budget we can help."
As Bob walked me round we chatted about what my plans were for my bathroom and he pointed out sanitaryware and taps that he thought might interest me. "When you are ready to start give me a call and I will come and take a look at the house. We can then knock down or build walls, organise the installation, lighting, plastering. There is always a solution," he said.

Score: 7/10
An unusual showroom packed full of ideas with helpful, friendly service

European Kitchens, Bedrooms & Bathrooms, Ansty Road

On the busy A4600 it would be easy to miss the modest sign for this showroom which does nothing to entice customers in.
However, the unusual white kitchen with pink glass worktop in the window did encourage me to cross the threshold. I hadn't been in the shop long when an assistant appeared through a door at the back. I said how much I liked the glass worktop and asked if it was practical. "No not really," she replied, "It does scratch." Having discouraged me from this line of enquiry she offered no practical alternative leaving me to ask about what door styles, other than the few on display, European KB&B could supply. She handed me a couple of brochures, Crown and Second Nature, and suggested I take them away with me. With no more information forthcoming I left.
I had the impression that the lady I spoke to was purely holding the fort while manager Dan Fletcher was out of the shop. With a small business I appreciate it is impossible to be in the showroom all the time, but my brief encounter did not inspire me to return another day.

Score: 5/10
Bland showroom (apart from the pink glass) and unimaginative service

Tubs & Tiles, Waterman Road

With plenty of parking outside this austere brick building has a surprisingly impressive interior with plenty of room set displays and racks of tiles which are all spotlessly clean and well lit.
There are solutions for both big and small bathrooms and dotted throughout the showroom high tables surrounded by stools where customers can stop and think.
   I waited at the reception desk while Paul chatted to a young couple trying to choose a wall tile to match their bathroom floor. He gave them three samples to take away and then turned to me explaining that they were the third couple from the same family that he had helped with a bathroom.  
I explained that I was planning to completely re-vamp my bathroom but needed some guidance. Paul produced a folder for a project he was currently working on and showed me how the design had developed from an initial client sketch on a post-it-note through to a floor plan, computer drawing and then photographs of the completely finished project.
Finally, he suggested I look at the company's website to see other work they'd done.

Score: 8/10
Attractive showroom with courteous, reassuring service. The website is impressive too

Winners profile:  Tubs and Tiles

Albert & Michael Heath was set up as a tile distribution company in 1966. Since changing premises in 2003, the business has gone from strength to strength and now employs 13 members of staff, with a turnover approaching £3m. Gary Hurley says, "We are aiming at the top end of the market, there's no point trying to compete with the likes of B&Q. We are in a good location on the outskirts of the City and we have plenty of free parking."
    The company has recently developed an impressive website which is updated with details and images of recent case studies as well as letters of praise from satisfied customers. When asked what Tubs & Tiles' strengths are, Gary said simply: "We've got good staff and good products."