With a new starter, a new website and new marketing materials all on the way for Warrior Bathrooms, we find out what’s been going on at the Shotton-based studio that never seems to stand still…
When we last caught up with the team at Warrior Bathrooms, co-owner Sarah introduced us to a new face around the showroom: sweet labrador Hamish. Now, a few months on, the team are on the cusp of welcoming yet another new starter to the business.
“We’re getting ready to bring someone else on board who will primarily be working with me in the showroom,” Sarah explains. “They’ll be working on designs, quotations, keeping on check of stock coming in, and of course if any of our trade customers need anything as well.
“All our showroom visitors are important to us, obviously, and when we’ve got a few people browsing, you want to make them all feel taken seriously, so having a second person here will hugely help out and make sure everyone feels like their project is important. I’m really looking forward to that, actually.”
It’s an especially interesting development considering that when we first met Warrior Bathrooms at the start of this year, the thought of expanding their team to take on another staff member was something both Craig and Sarah insisted was still a long way away.
And of course, another member of staff on the shop floor also means another vehicle will be joining the company’s fleet, too.
Never ones to rest on their laurels, Warrior Bathrooms is also undertaking a major revamp of its website, not only looking to offer easier access to products, but also creating a digital version of its recently printed customer guidebook, too.
“We just want to make it as easy as possible for customers,” Sarah explains. “It won’t be the full version that we’ve just had made for the showroom, but we want to be able to cover common questions about schemes and products, so they can browse that even if they can’t get into the studio to pick up a booklet.
“Some suppliers tend to use a lot of jargon in their product information, and I think that doesn’t always make a lot of sense if you’re a customer – maybe all they know is they want a smaller basin. If that kind of phrasing is what works for them, we don’t think it should be any harder than that.
“We’re just trying to give them a little bit of peace of mind, and reassuring them we’re not going to make it difficult and throw a lot of random acronyms at them.”
Jargon-busting
And although Warrior Bathrooms had just added three new displays the last time we caught up with them, the team says they’re eager to update the showroom again. However, they’re sensibly waiting a few more months to see what new products the suppliers bring out as we get enter the Autumn months.
“We want to look at what the market feeds back over the next few months and then make a decision about displays moving forwards. We need to tread a bit carefully though, because we need to make sure what we’re investing in is what our customers actually want here in our area.”
Sarah explains that despite most of the bathroom suppliers heralding the return of colour and bold textures in their latest product brochures, in their local area at least, most of the clients are still more interested in safer, more neutral shades and finishes.
“I think a lot of our suppliers are actually surprised by what our top sellers are,” Sarah laughs, “especially if they’re based down in the South, where tastes might be a bit different.
“At the moment, our customers have firmly stuck with a lot of the beige neutrals, and they want very subtle, serene bathrooms. Lots of wooden tones, or walnuts, dark oaks, or tobacco oaks, which they want to put with neutral stone flooring or coverings. Actually, we’re seeing a couple of people reverting back to wanting ceramic tiling, too.”
And speaking of reverting, as the business approaches its two-year anniversary, Sarah says Warrior Bathrooms is beginning to see a steady stream of repeat customers returning for additional projects.
“That’s something that’s happened with Craig on the installation side of the business over the years, so it’s great that we’re starting to see that more and more with the showroom side now. I think that really does speak to how well we’re doing, and that our clients clearly feel like they’re receiving good service, getting a fair price, and the quality is great as well.”
What next?
And of course, it wouldn’t be a proper check-in without asking about showroom pooch Hamish, who, according to Sarah, is still no happier being snapped standing in a basin or bath, despite how happy he is to lounge around the showroom.
“He’s nine months old, and given the size he is now, we’re not going to get him anywhere near a basin now,” Sarah resignedly admits. “We’ve had to move on – we’re hoping to get him pictured in a bath, because that’s our only hope now.”
She continues: “But he’s definitely still the centre of attention in the showroom. He loves the fuss he gets from people coming in and everybody already knows him by name. We were trying to take things one step at a time with the business, so it’s a bit crazy that we thought to throw a puppy into things as well, but we really can’t imagine not having him around the shop now.”
So after another strong few months for the business, and with the official Warrior Bathrooms pocket guide now printed and in the showroom, Craig and Sarah’s attention is now turning towards their new starter. And along the way, hopefully they’ll also somehow find time to turn their attention to new displays as we move into the autumn.
When we next check in with them, how will having another team member change the showroom’s dynamic? How will the rollout of their new handy guide change the customer journey? What sort of trend decisions will inform their choices about new displays? And perhaps most importantly of all, will we ever get a picture of Hamish in the bath? Stay tuned to find out…