I was intrigued by Chris Pateman's article regarding trade associations within the kbb markets.

  I wonder why he took time to put pen to paper to take a swipe at the KBSA from the sidelines when it is likely that he knows very little about what the Association offers and why hundreds of high street specialists choose to be members and value that membership.

I know that for the printed media it is always more appealing to print controversial stories but I for one would like to see a bit more balance than we have seen of late regarding the KBSA.

The KBSA offers an important differentiator for all high street specialists and all it takes is a little support to get an awful lot back.

Chris is exactly right when he says that it is times like these that we need our trade association. All high street specialists will be utilising all tools at their disposal to re-assure nervous consumers that they can buy from them with confidence and promote the benefits of an association backed service and the KBSA offers the retailer the opportunity to do this.

My own business has just opened a second showroom in a new town and we have found that the KBSA  package of financial protection and TrustMark status is an invaluable tool that gives us credibility in an area where people are just beginning to know our name.

The re-assurance that we can offer our customers via KBSA membership is also proving worthwhile in our home town where we have been established for 12 years, especially against a backdrop of declining footfall and consumer worries about were to spend their money.

It is likely that the current financial turbulence will continue for some time and I fail to see how any quality retailer cannot realise the benefits of the KBSA badge.

The KBSA is the only trade association totally focused on the independent retailer within the kbb markets and also offers a range of money saving benefits, much needed at a time when every penny counts. 

I would urge your readers who are not KBSA members to take a look and make their own decisions rather than rely on the uninformed opinions of a few outsiders and take their chance with a federation that has little experience of acting for kbb retailers.

David Dalglish, director, The Knaresborough Kitchen Company

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