In The Family Since 1920
Kudos Showering Products has been manufacturing products in their Cumbrian factory since 1999. They design and produce shower enclosures, shower trays, overbath screens and wetroom products and sell them via specialist bathroom retailer showrooms across the UK.
In this series of case studies we catch up with these specialist bathroom designers to find out why they choose sell Kudos products. This month we visited HS Interiors in Middlesbrough…
HS Interiors is a Middlesbrough business with a long history. It started in 1920 as Hardware Supplies, selling architectural ironmongery to the trade and this specialist business continues today under the leadership of Paul Faulkner, the grandson of the original founder. The company branched out into selling Kitchens in the 1950s and then expanded into Bathrooms almost 40 years ago. Today the Kitchen and Bathroom business is a separate division to Hardware Supplies and, whilst in the same building, trades from a neighbouring showroom displaying a raft of kitchen and bathroom products targeted directly at the consumer.
Paul Faulkner started working in the showroom as a Saturday job and across school holidays from the age of 8, so there is little he doesn’t know about the kitchen and bathroom industry. He now employs 29 people of which 8 are based in the showroom to service the design, supply and installation requirements of their customers.
In their sizable showroom they have over 60 kitchen and bathroom displays for people to view and gather ideas. In their bathroom showroom, which is situated on the first floor of the building, they display an array of the leading bathroom product brands covering basins, baths, WCs, furniture, taps, showering products, tiles and flooring. There’s an array of different products go into a new bathroom installation and they all have to work effectively together, but with the experienced staff at HS Interiors the customer couldn’t be in better hands.
“We’ve been selling Kudos for over 20 years,
it’s a great quality showering product.”
The showroom staff work with the customer to measure the room space, ask lots of questions about how the room will be used and then come up with a computer aided design to present their product and design ideas. They really understand the products they sell and can point out all the features and benefits applicable with different options.
Around 80% of the kitchens and 50% of the bathrooms they sell are also installed by the business, so they work very closely with 30 subcontractors to project manage those that require fitting too. These contractors spend around 90% of their time working with HS Interiors, in fact many of the younger ones are on their books and that’s important as their work reflects on the reputation of the business.
HS Interiors has been selling Kudos Showering products since 1999, when Kudos started as a business. Kudos products sit in their mid to top end shower enclosure and tray offer and it is their largest selling enclosure brand by volume. There are 16 Kudos products on display in the HS Interiors showroom showcasing many different styles of enclosures with complementary shower trays and over bath shower screens. It is a compliment to Kudos that HS Interiors have purchased so many displays of their products and have continued to sell Kudos products for over 20 years. They say that many of their customers like the Kudos brand also because it is made locally in the North of England.
“We have 16 Kudos products on display so people can
judge the quality and features for themselves.”
“We have no issues with the Kudos product, it is good quality and the staff at Kudos are very friendly and really support our staff. We know we are getting a good quality product and even with new innovations, we know they will be sound and well tested by Kudos.” Said Paul Faulkner.
The number of Kudos products on display in the HS Interiors showroom certainly reflect Pauls views. They are displayed in a variety of room sets throughout the showroom which allows visitors to judge the quality and see the functionality up-close and not just guess at it from a computer screen. The experienced showroom staff are also on hand to answer any product questions.
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So, if you are living in the North-East of England and want to view some great ideas for your bathroom along with advice from one of the most experienced in the business, call into HS Interiors. They are situated in The Faulkner Building, Leisure Park, North Ormsby Road, Middlesbrough TS4 2AP. Tel 01642-243403. www.hsinteriors.co.uk
