An anonymous blogger gives his views on Wickes' move into the kitchen and bathroom HIgh Street...

I thought I would give you my comments on the "Wickes high street assault" story.

I worked for Wickes as a design consultant for around five or six years in various stores across the north-west of England.

This idea was first bandied about in 2001, but things changed when Focus bought out Wickes and decided to put some Wickes showrooms in Focus stores, four of which I designed.

It did not really work for them. I cannot see this new project being wholly successful. I am quite sure that there are areas in the country that a Wickes showroom could cover, but not many. Also
I do not think they have thought this out from a cost/benefit point of view.

They would have to have one full-time designer, a branch manager, a lead-taker and somebody is going to have to do the cashing up, which is a major security and procedural area for Wickes.

Also they have recently restructured the design consultants' payment terms and conditions for the worse and I know for a fact that they are up in arms about it.

Travis Perkins also has Benchmarx in the south of the country and I know they want to expand this, but these have the same showroom products that Wickes sells.

In my opinion, it's a publicity stunt. Trying to make themselves look like an independent is not going to work for them because a lot of independents give a very good personal service.

I also know that the current deal Wickes has with its installers is not as rosy as it would like to make out. A couple of installers in my area are trying to get out because they are now doing the
designer's job for them and then giving Wickes back a lot of their money for the privilege. 

RB, by email