Innovations

Gary Cosgrove, proprietor

Business is OK at the moment. We're a family business with five employed fitters and all our business comes from recommendation, not advertising.
I don't think that even Yellow Pages delivers value any more in terms of advertising. We're expecting it to go dead over Christmas, but we'll be busy until then. We'll take the opportunity to do some updates to the showroom then, while it's quiet. Footfall's been good over the past six weeks, but it was dead during the school holidays. We do work for a number of local groups such as the police, fire brigade and Jehovah's Witnesses - people who trust us because we don't have subbies and we're utterly reliable. We also get a good share of the pink pound. House prices are flat, but people are moving into the area from the south. It's picking up.

Betta Living

Noel Dean, chairman

Business is at acceptable levels - we're hitting our targets - but it's tough.
People are not spending on big projects. It's a confidence thing - there's a lot of caution out there. There are some keen offers out there, so customers are finding good value. There are fewer of them, so the cost per client through the door is rising. We have full-page advertisements in the local press in Stoke 40 weeks a year. Footfall is down, but we're extremely positive, we've refurbished the store in Stoke with bedrooms and kitchens - you've got to update constantly. The inside of our Stoke shop looks fantastic and it produces the best contribution to profit per square foot of all our stores.

Bespoke Bedrooms Kitchens and Bathrooms

Rob Bell, director

It's tough at the minute and anyone saying otherwise simply isn't right. House sales are flat - they're just not moving at all well.
Unemployment isn't a big issue, but because of location it's about warehousing and distribution, which is steady but doesn't create high living standards to feed this industry. Kitchens and bedrooms are selling at the moment and gloss products are popular here. We are active marketers - we spend in Yellow Pages and local newspapers. We're doing leaflet drops and taking stands in supermarkets. Footfall has been poor over the past few weeks. Being on an industrial estate, because we're manufacturers, means we don't have passing trade, but it also means we've no parking problems and customers have a better perception of value. The showroom is fully updated - I'm a firm believer in the importance of that - some don't. It costs, but customers respond well to a quality display.

Willetts Kitchens and Bathrooms

Stephen Willett, manager

Business isn't bad, we're steady. People are a bit more positive at present.
Frankly, it's a strange year, but people are still spending. Stoke is not affected by the big wide world. People here tend to save to get what they want. People are sick of hearing about the euro problems. We're in the affordability price range, but people at the top end of the market must be struggling. Unemployment isn't an issue - my wife left her job and got another within a week recently. People are scared about what they're reading about the euro and they're sick of hearing it. We're spending on marketing - Yellow Pages, newspaper advertising and our website, but we're very selective. Showroom footfall seems to be all or nothing. Saturdays are certainly back to 'very busy'. We constantly update the showroom. The fashion-led thing in the business is a problem, but it's also an opportunity.

Diamond Interiors

Louise Price, director

Business has been a lot better this last quarter. Footfall isn't as good as it was in the past, but the orders are coming in and the good ones are spending lots.
We're also able to spend more time with them. Customers come to us for quality and the complete supply and fit job. This is a family business that started in 1932. It has adapted from making tiles originally and constantly moved forward. Wet rooms are selling and there's a move back to classic kitchens, but overall customers come here for the whole wow factor. We've updated our website along with our displays, but we spend little on advertising - it doesn't work for us. We're excited about the upcoming year, thanks to new brands on board.