magnet or wren kitchens

1888

looking to get a new kitchen in next couple of weeks , seen one in homebase but also checked out magnet & wren.
anyone recommend any of these for quality etc.
thanx

phill99

I've fitted a number of Magnet Trade Kitchens and find the quality pretty decent. They are a decent mid level kitchen. If you can, try and get it through Magnet Trade as opposed to Magnet. Magnet Trade supply to the trade (like Howdens) but the prices are a fraction of what you pay through the regular Magnet store. You just need to fid your own fitter.

Can't comment on Wren.

Meepster

Quality wise, there isn't much difference between Wren and Magnet, both use 18mm rigid built carcases, Blum hinges and drawers, Kessebohmer storage solutions etc etc. The only real difference is Magnet use furniture grade MFC for their carcases, whereas Wren use a standard grade MFC. Both companies produce their own carcases and buy most of their doors from other suppliers. Wren are in the middle of refurbishing a lot of their showrooms and there are some nice additions to their range, especially in the "modern" catagory. Magnet will be following suit with a couple of changes in January and then more changes in June/July.

Both are MUCH better quality than Homebase, mainly due to the fact Homebase use a very basic 18mm flat-packed carcase (made for them by Interior Solutions) and a lot of their doors leave a lot to be desired.

Hope that helps?

Meepster

phill99 wrote: »

I've fitted a number of Magnet Trade Kitchens and find the quality pretty decent. They are a decent mid level kitchen. If you can, try and get it through Magnet Trade as opposed to Magnet. Magnet Trade supply to the trade (like Howdens) but the prices are a fraction of what you pay through the regular Magnet store. You just need to fid your own fitter.

That all depends on whether it's a true "trade" kitchen, or one from the retail range.

I priced a Linton kitchen on retail and trade and the retail one was just under £300 cheaper...

CKdesigner

Meepster wrote: »

That all depends on whether it's a true "trade" kitchen, or one from the retail range.

I priced a Linton kitchen on retail and trade and the retail one was just under £300 cheaper...

I always thought Magnet Trade offered a different range of doors to Magnet retail and had less unit sizes to choose from - is that correct? or is there a lot of cross over?

So basically what are the real differences between Magnet Trade and retail?

That will keep you busy for the rest of your Saturday morning off!

CK

phill99

CKdesigner wrote: »

I always thought Magnet Trade offered a different range of doors to Magnet retail and had less unit sizes to choose from - is that correct? or is there a lot of cross over?

So basically what are the real differences between Magnet Trade and retail?

That will keep you busy for the rest of your Saturday morning off!

CK

I've asked the manager at my local Magnet Trade why the company has 2 arms selling essentially the same product and he can't answer the question!!

Most doors are available at both Trade and Retail arms. There are supposed to be some doors that are exclusively Retail only, but back in the summer we installed an 'exclusively only' retail kitchen but sourced it through the local trade arm. I think in reaility, Magnet won't pass ip a sale!

the only real difference is the costings. The retail arm occupy expensive premises and have large showrooms and sell at an inflated price with inflated fitting costs, whereas the Trade arm occupy lower cost premises (normally on industrial estates) don't have big showrooms and sell on a high volume low margin approach.

I can't see how the business model can work!!

Meepster

CKdesigner wrote: »

I always thought Magnet Trade offered a different range of doors to Magnet retail and had less unit sizes to choose from - is that correct? or is there a lot of cross over?

So basically what are the real differences between Magnet Trade and retail?

That will keep you busy for the rest of your Saturday morning off!

CK

<start of War and Peace>

The best way to look at it is to split the doors up into different sections:

Trade only, Essentially, Purely and Uniquely

Trade only: These are generally contract quality doors and some basic MFC or vinyl wrapped doors.

Essentially: Available on both trade and retail, but are called different names (i.e. Seattle on retail, Davenport on trade) entry level doors, a mixture of MFCs, vinyl and veneered doors. A lot of these doors started off as trade only, but when MFI went bust, they were made available on retail to try and snap up some of MFI's customers.

Purely: A bit of a mish-mash really, but will be changing in the New Year, a selection of doors that are cross-over between trade and retail (such as Cream High Gloss, Urban Creme on retail, Juno on trade) and some doors which are retail only (such as Urban Lineaire - integrated handle) A mixture of painted, solid wood and vinyl doors.

Uniquely: Top end Solid Wood or Painted MDF framed doors, specifically aimed at the retail side of the business.

Only Purely, Essentially or Uniquely kitchens are available through retail. ALL kitchens are available through trade and anything from the Essentially or Purely ranges will be cheaper on trade than retail. Uniquely kitchens, as they are aimed specifically at the retail market, tend to be cheaper through the retail side.

All units sizes are available to either trade or retail.

The real differences between retail and trade?

Units: standard trade carcases are non-soft-close with metabox runners (but can be upgraded) whereas retail are softclose as standard. The carcase is exactly the same.

Service: if you are getting a trade quote, don't expect the designer to spend 2 or 3 hours getting a design right for you. Whilst they are good designers, they don't have the time to spend with each customer, so will knock up basic designs, unless you have a specific design you have had done elsewhere and they copy that. Retail offers an enviroment similar to what the indys offer, highest level of customer service, designers who will take time and effort into creating whatever design you want. (Oh and we serve tea and coffee in real cups )

Worktops: Trade worktops are restricted to laminate, some solid woods or Sonora (Slabtech). Retail offers everything, Corian, Granite, Silestone, Eco, Quartz, Zodiaq, 20 something different woods and whatever is also available on trade.

Appliances: Trade tends to offer Whirlpool appliances and are very basic models. Retail has the Whirlpool stuff too, but also works up through to Neff and Siemens. (Any appliance is available through trade, but it wont be cheaper through trade, unless it's a specific "trade" appliance)

Installation: Trade, you're getting a builder/fitter to put it together for you. Retail, over 80% of kitchens sold are installed by Magnet. Main points with regards to installation are: 2 year guarantee on EVERYTHING the fitter does, even if it's not something officially contracted to Magnet. Trustmark - all payments fully insured, dedicated complaint handling system etc etc. All fitters are checked, checked and checked again, all have public liability insurance and are Gas Safe and NICEIC registered (as appropriate)

Have I missed anything out?

(Oh and I'm not on day off, I'm using my mobile!)

<end of War and Peace>

CKdesigner

Hi Meeps

Thank you so much for the clearing all that up. I think this information will be of use to many people.

Have a good weekend and holiday.

CK

Meepster

phill99 wrote: »

I've asked the manager at my local Magnet Trade why the company has 2 arms selling essentially the same product and he can't answer the question!!

Hopefully, I've partially answered this below

Most doors are available at both Trade and Retail arms. There are supposed to be some doors that are exclusively Retail only, but back in the summer we installed an 'exclusively only' retail kitchen but sourced it through the local trade arm. I think in reaility, Magnet won't pass ip a sale!

Of course they wont pass up on a sale, who would? You do know you can buy a retail kitchen, on an account, through the retail side don't you? In some cases (especially on the framed kitchens), it should be cheaper this way.

the only real difference is the costings. The retail arm occupy expensive premises and have large showrooms and sell at an inflated price with inflated fitting costs, whereas the Trade arm occupy lower cost premises (normally on industrial estates) don't have big showrooms and sell on a high volume low margin approach.

The MAIN difference is service, better service costs more wherever you go.

I can't see how the business model can work!!

Well, it does work, has done for years!!

Hope that helps?

DirectDebacle

CKdesigner wrote: »

Hi Meeps

Thank you so much for the clearing all that up. I think this information will be of use to many people.

Have a good weekend and holiday.

CK

It tells them that in terms of furniture construction kitchen units are, in terms of materials and construction, generally at the bottom of the pile.

CKdesigner

Hi Meeps

The business model is similar to Travis Perkins owning Wickes as its retail business and Benchmarx for its trade side I suppose.

CK