Sirius Buying Group has announced plans to extend its operations with the launch of the Sirius Kitchen Buying Group on February 1.
The move is aimed at benefiting independent kitchen retailers and studio specialists by providing better profit margins and buying power.
The Sirius Buying Group, which has previously specialised in the electrical retailing field, currently has a network of 240 outlets throughout the UK and a trade purchasing power in excess of £100 million.
Speaking exclusively to kbbreview, Sirius events director Stuart Hopwood said: “Sirius Kitchen Buying Group is an extension of what the electrical appliance retailers have been experiencing, yet the kitchen and design specialists haven’t really had that particular access. They’ve had access to certain elements, but now they will have wider access to better margins. Profit is one thing, but margin is better.
“It will have similar benefits to the Sirius Buying Group, but it won’t be 100% the same. There are other elements where the Sirius Kitchen Buying Group will be negotiating with the likes of kitchen companies and different brands, such as Insinkerator, Astracast and Blanco. These are not on the Sirius Buying Group preferred list, so we’re introducing other suppliers on to that particular list. What it will mean is that if a current Sirius Buying Group member wants to become a Sirius Kitchen Buying Group member, then there’s no problem and vice versa. It will cross-fertilise and there won’t be any disadvantage.”
In response to suggestions that the new group will face competition from the likes of the KBBG, one of Europe’s largest kitchen and bathroom buying groups, Hopwood said: “I don’t think it’s a case of competing. You’ve got Sirius Buying Group and Euronics, who are a buying group but also a distributor. They buy in the products and sell them to their members, whereas the Sirius Buying Group is a group where the independent stays independent and deals independently with the suppliers themselves. The group negotiates accordingly on behalf of the design specialists.
“The idea is not competition, the idea is a structure that is more independent-oriented without the bureaucracy. The independent stays independent.”
Sirius chairman Gordon Jones said: “Providing a simple, effective process for the independent to compete is the foundation basis of the Sirius Buying Group. Members are provided with a host of benefits by being part of a respected group, while retaining individual independence as members’ direct trading relationship with preferred suppliers continues.”
Pictured left to right – Sirius Kitchen Buying Group Management Team, Ben Gilks, Steve Jones, Darren Scott, Gordon Jones and Peter Gilks