| 06 April 2011 | |
Shopping Around: Romford |
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Stadium Bathroom Centre, London Road
So I arrived with high expectations to find ample customer parking and an impressive green and silver sign. But once inside, the illusion was shattered.
Stadium's crimes were as follows: grubby and cracked floor tiles, dusty baths, cobwebs on a display of chrome shower heads and lumps of Blu-tack on the wall where notices had been. To liven things up, a few tatty aftershave boxes had been randomly placed on some of the basins.
This was a big showroom and there was a varied selection of displays, including Heritage and Ideal Standard sanitaryware, but it was impossible to be enthusiastic about any of it in this dishevelled setting. I lingered near the sales desk. One member of staff was on the phone and didn't acknowledge me.
SERVICE: 0 SHOWROOM: 3 TOTAL: 3/10
Luxury this is not
Home County Kitchens, Victoria Road
However, the green Home County Kitchens shop sign looked a bit dated and inside this spacious showroom some of the displays were also past their prime. But all this was apparently going to change, as the new owner Barry explained, pointing out the displays that he was about to replace and explaining his vision for the new-look Home County Kitchens. It had already been rebranded as HCK on his business card, on a smart postcard and the website was "coming soon".
Barry explained that he would be able to take on as much or as little of my project as I required. "I try to think outside the box and will give you a kitchen a bit different to anyone else's", he said.
SERVICE: 4 SHOWROOM: 3 TOTAL: 7/10
Barry has big plans for HCK
The Kitchen Studio, Main Road
And I'm happy to report that my experience in the shop lived up to the professional marketing.
The Kitchen Studio sells Chippendale, Sheraton and Charles Rennie Mackintosh kitchens. All of the displays were gleaming and there was a small room dedicated as a sample area with a selection of alternative doors neatly arranged on the walls plus samples of laminate, granite and composite worktops.
Darren sought me out and we discussed the merits of different finishes before he walked me round the displays, pointing out various storage ideas, the coordinated carcass interiors and clever non-tip shelves.
"We will sit down with you at home and find out what you like and don't like about your current kitchen, even down to what side of the sink you prefer the drainer," he said.
SERVICE: 4 SHOWROOM: 4 TOTAL: 8/10
An exceptionally well presented showroom and intelligent service
Apco, Victoria Road
The displays illustrated the different options for the average bathroom, bringing together wall-hung or back-to-wall sanitaryware, standard bath or a P-shaped bath with glass shower screen. Each display included a heated towel rail and mirror with the prices for all the items printed on cards. The overall impression was clean, tidy and professional.
I paused to chat to Dave and commented on the attractive displays. "We try to keep the showroom realistic," he said. "That way, it is much easier for you to see what you can achieve at home." I asked if Apco would be able to help with planning my new bathroom and Dave suggested I call company director Ian Prince. "Ian will be happy to visit you at home or you can bring in plans. It is better if Ian visits the house, so he can check on the plumbing."
SERVICE: 3 SHOWROOM: 4 TOTAL: 7/10
Plenty of choice in a well presented setting
JA Huckins, Dagenham Road
An effort had obviously been made to create attractive, eye-catching window displays with a modern, freestanding Victoria & Albert bath.
Another display featured with a traditional roll-top bath, classic pedestal basin and high level WC set against floral tiles. Inside, there was a display of Laufen's distinctive black and white Mimo collection plus items from Grohe and Roper Rhodes.
I explained to one of the lads behind the counter that I wasn't sure whether I would be able to fit a bath and separate shower into my new bathroom.
"Bring in a rough plan showing where the doors, windows and WC are and we can take a look at it for you," he suggested. "It is hard to visualise a space, so if you tell us what you would like to have, we will be able to tell you what you can have."
SERVICE: 3 SHOWROOM: 3 TOTAL: 6/10
This is a plumbers merchant with flair
Beeleigh, Market Place
The red sign and red awning meant the shop was easy to spot, but the showroom windows were wasted. Instead of an eye-catching kitchen display, a hob and built-in oven wrapped in plastic took the prime position. The presentation did not improve inside, with a selection of plastic drawer inserts stacked on the side, a patchwork of different tiles on the floor and bright patches of pastel paint behind the wall units.
The door to the showroom had been propped open, no doubt to entice customers in, but this meant the space was cold and Elaine was wearing her coat. However, her welcome was warm and we were soon chatting about my plans.
Elaine explained that Beeleigh was a family company that sold Crown kitchens "because they are excellent quality and value for money and, as they are based in Kent, if there are any problems we can replace items quickly".
She handed me the Crown brochure and an A5 printed sheet outlining Beeleigh's service and suggested I visit the website. "You can see some of the kitchens we have installed. It will give you an idea of what's possible."
SERVICE: 3 SHOWROOM: 3 TOTAL: 6/10
The showroom lacked polish but the service was jolly
WINNER'S PROFILE: The Kitchen Studio
Creating the right image for the showroom was important to Lee and Troy from the very start and customers have been enticed to visit the shop through local advertising and through the website.
The showroom has also hosted a number of cookery demonstrations, supported by AEG.
Lee and Troy are constantly looking at ways to enhance the business, introducing fitted bedrooms two months ago and creating the separate sample area so that customers can take their time looking at the door and worktop options available.
"I think we offer an excellent product at a good price with a high level of service from the first visit to the shop through design, installation and to after-care," says Troy.
