Omega is sponsoring the New Kitchen Retailer of the Year category at the 2020 kbbreview Retail & Design Awards.
The category is one of the new categories to feature in the awards for 2020.
We talk to James Bishton, Omega’s head of retail sales, to find out why the company has supported this particular award.
Q: What would you say makes the kbbreview Retail & Design Awards so important to the KBB industry?
A: Independent retailers and their designers grow and prosper through delivering the highest levels of service and great British innovation and creativity to distinguish themselves.
The successes achieved in the KBB industry should be celebrated and recognised with peers. Being shortlisted as a finalist or winning an award is a great honour that lasts more the just one evening, giving the finalists and winners a hugely credible marketing benefit to further enhance their reputation.
The awards are a great way to celebrate the breadth and diversity of talent in our industry and to give recognition to our leading lights and new talent.
The awards are also a great opportunity for manufacturers to network and exchange ideas with existing and prospective new retail and design colleagues.
Q: Why did Omega decide to sponsor the New Kitchen Retailer of the Year award?
A: Getting a new KBB showroom business off the ground, from a marketing, operational and sales perspective, requires a massive investment in time, commitment and finance. Building the right foundations at the outset requires a huge amount of hard work and is crucial for the future growth and prosperity of the business.
In the past two years, Omega has also made significant investments in plant, infrastructure, technology, people and marketing to ensure we can continue to be brand leaders in the design and manufacture of high-quality fitted kitchen furniture. So we felt it was the perfect category to sponsor at the beginning of an exciting new decade.
Q: What do you believe makes for an award-winning kitchen retailer?
A: Omega is proud to work with many talented and innovative retailers and designers. It is clear to see what distinguishes the very best independent retailers from the rest. We work with retailers that pride themselves on getting things right from the outset and aim to exceed consumer expectations by over-delivering throughout the process.
To be able to attract the type of discerning clients who have worked hard to afford their dream kitchen requires a deep commitment to delivering excellence. This standard has to be maintained way beyond marketing and lead-generation, right through what could otherwise become a stressful experience for the consumer.
Delivering excellence starts with providing the right initial advice, ongoing support in terms of product selection and design, and facilitating a faultless installation to ensure the consumer experience is consistently positive and expectations are surpassed. This distinctly personal approach delivers a very special result that many competitors cannot match.
Q: In what ways does Omega support or work with kitchen retailers?
A: At Omega, we fully understand the important role a furniture supplier plays for our valued kitchen showroom partners. Myself and many of my colleagues have worked in kitchen retail prior to manufacturing and so have full knowledge, experience and empathy for the challenges faced in supplying such a high-value project. We understand that the kitchen is the heart of every home and is an emotive and important purchase.
We understand that we play a pivotal part in building and sustaining a retailer’s reputation, as well as helping them to achieve the best profit margin.
We are committed to ongoing market research and testing to ensure our high-quality offer is always appealing and fresh and aim to provide exceptional value and service. All our beautifully crafted contemporary and classic kitchens are inspired by the principles of great British craftsmanship and design to help our retailers stand out from the crowd.
Q: How do you see the role that kbbreview plays in the KBB industry?
A: kbbreview is the number-one publication in the industry and its ABC circulation figures speak for themselves. It is our go-to publication for KBB news. We have an excellent relationship with kbbreview. Above all, they are credible, relevant and supportive.