I was admiring an ornate kitchen complete with thick carved granite worktops, topped off by a chandelier, when Gary joined me. “We make all our own kitchens,” he said.“Customers bring in pictures from glossy magazines for us to take a look at and we recreate whatever they want.” Gary then showed me a selection of beautifully made
wood doors to illustrate the quality of the craftsmanship.
“Best there is,” he said proudly. Gary went on to explain that he employed his own fitters. “We don’t subcontract. Our guys know what they are doing. I’ll introduce them to you before they start and they will stay with you until the job is finished.”
Then we went upstairs to look at the equally well made fitted bedroom furniture.
Every display was beautifully finished with attractive accessories.
I suspected a female touch, but Gary admitted to doing it all himself.
“With the computer design you will be able to see what your kitchen will look like and then the result will be even better. The biggest thrill I get is looking at my customers’ faces when they see the kitchen for the first time.”
As I left, Gary added, “we’ve been in the area for a long time, so if there is anything else you need just give me a call and I’ll be able to point you in the right direction.”
“The most enthusiastic retailer I have met in a long time”
Gary Cosgrove has been in the kitchen industry all his life, initially as a designer. He then bought an empty shop, “where I used to buy sweets as a lad”, and converted it into a kitchen showroom, eventually expanding into the building next door.
“I love this job and want every kitchen to be perfect. I’ll add little extras, which does eat into my profit, just to make my customers happy. When their friends see the finished kitchen they often think that it cost twice as much as it actually did.”
Gary stresses that employing fitters, rather than using subcontractors, is crucial to the success of his business.
“We’re like a family, we all care very much about what we do, it’s not just about earning a wage”. |
