Tunbridge Wells kitchen retailer Kutchenhaus is defying the ongoing pressures on bricks and mortar retailers operating on the high street, to report 20 per cent growth in year-on-year revenue.
The store, on St John’s Road in Southborough, which serves customers across Tunbridge Wells and surrounding areas, is managed by franchisee owner John Stevens, who has operated the business success story for over three years.
The growth is primarily down to the quality of the instore customer experience, the German designed and manufactured kitchens that Kutchenhaus is famous for and the increased consumer demand for affordable quality. The business is now forecasting a 12 month revenue growth target of 29 per cent as it looks to build further on its success.
Kutchenhaus in Tunbridge Wells boasts 1,500 square foot of retail space and employs three staff across customer services and kitchen design.
John has plans to open a second store in the south Croydon area as he looks to build further on the store’s success.
During lockdown, the team utilised virtual appointments as well as 3D planning and design tools to create kitchens remotely for local customers for three months until they came back in late June when stores could reopen. This led to some long leads being completed once the lockdown period ended. Strict hygiene measures such as screens, masks and sanitising stations have since been implemented.
The majority of customers that visit the Tunbridge Wells store come from recommendations as top-quality service and installation is a priority for John and his team.
John Stevens, business owner of Kutchenhaus in Tunbridge Wells commented: “We pride ourselves on the service of making sure customers always come first which has led to word of mouth business being a strong selling point for us. We are in a in a competitive area with over 30 other kitchen retailers operating so the growth we have shown is something we are extremely happy with. The current situation brought new challenges with it, but it is testament to the team that we have seen sales rise.
“We pride ourselves on offering that personal touch to customers and feel that has benefitted us along with the expertise that we provide which has given us a good reputation in the area. Technology has also helped during recent times and provides us with a chance to broaden our catchment area to benefit future customers. We look forward to the next 12 months.”
Sean Ford, national head of sales and operations for Kutchenhaus, said: “Kutchenhaus is on an ambitious growth path over the next 2-3 years, so it’s fantastic to see the progress John and the team are making at our Tunbridge Wells business. There’s no doubt trading conditions are tough for many bricks and mortar retailers and the home improvement market is extremely competitive, but we find that our franchise owners are bucking the trend by creating an engaging store environment and delivering a high quality end product.”
Established in 2004, Kutchenhaus is a franchise business owned by Europe’s largest kitchen manufacturer, Nobilia. Customers can both buy online at www.kutchenhaus.co.uk or one of its 33 showrooms across the UK. Potential franchisee partners interested in finding out more, can access further business information at www.kutchenhaus.co.uk/franchise/.