The quickest way to buy a new kitchen is to walk into a department store and order one. The salesperson will offer you a complete package, from appliances to replacement kitchen worktops, at one all-inclusive price. In half an hour, you can have a kitchen ordered. So why would you go to the trouble of ordering direct from a supplier?
So you don’t have to pay the middleman
When you order a kitchen from a kitchen shop, DIY store or department store, they’ll turn around and order the parts and labour from the supplier so in many cases you can get the exact same service at a lower price by contacting the supplier directly. This is particularly worthwhile if you’re doing a partial refurb – only installing replacement kitchen worktops, for example.
To get a kitchen that fits your space
Shops can only carry limited stock, and that often means sticking to standard sizes, which would be fine if all British homes had been built to the same plans. You need a supplier who can cater to the quirks of your individual home, whether that’s manufacturing a replacement kitchen worktop to fit a wavy cottage wall or building bespoke kitchen cabinets that make the most of the odd spaces in your period home.
To choose from the full range of materials
Kitchen shops and department stores offer their clients a limited range of options. This can leave you poring through their books struggling to find a combination that suits you and your family while, in fact, their supplier has many more options available that would suit you better. By choosing individual suppliers, you also free yourself from the built-in assumptions of the store: maybe you’d like a different brand for your oven, your hob and your fridge. Maybe you’d like a special type of sink or a particular gadget built-in. Specialists can do this for you.
To work with experts
Salespeople in shops know their stuff, but their stuff is limited to the lines they sell and the products their store carries. Staff working at a manufacturing plant will have a much deeper knowledge of their industry and the full range of options available. By choosing specialists, you have the chance to work with experts in their fields.
So you’re in control
By working directly with independent suppliers, you’ll be able to maintain control over the process and eliminate the middleman when it comes to scheduling installation and other works. You’ll be able to communicate with suppliers and the tradespeople working on your new kitchen directly, so if there’s a delay you’ll understand why and be able to make a real choice from your options. Avoid the frustration of ringing a call centre to hear the same platitudes and work directly with the people who make the things you love to use.
