i am in the north of scotland and trying to open a carpet furniture shop but the 3exsisting companies here have monopolised the main suppliers..MCD, HEADLAM & FLANAGAN FLOORING can anyone suggest a supplier that i could try?
i contacted all 3 named companies and got told that they were unwilling to upset there current accounts at this present moment in time. The company i have just left had a very high turn over with them all but the fact i am going to be the largest stockist in the area i would have thought they would have happily tread on some toes? but clearly not. I have seen a company called maguires which i thought i would try??
im supprised to hear that, is it there own brand stuff they dont want to sell to you? I take it you can buy metals, gripper, underlay etc? There is a chap on here from scotland that pops on most days, im sure he will be able to point you in the right direction when he sees this post. There is also RWS Carpet Fitters Supplies who trade on here. Not sure if he can help you out? Again he will be on tomorrow morning (normally is) and im sure he will add to this post :thumbs
the 3 companies are much the same to be honest as your probably aware headlam being the biggest followed by mcd then flanigans, all of them offer the likes of cormar, altro, gradus, crucial trading, woolimex etc etc to be honest the list goes on. Understandably i may be able to get indivual accounts which would create alot of work by comparison to phoning one supplier and having one bill. I am looking to take 30-50 rolls of carpet and 15-25 rolls of 3m viynl all cash upfront as well as a few diffrent weights of underlay. I really thought one of those 3 would have entertained be... I have just taken on a 280sq mtr shop so could do with finding a supplier soon lol I dont really want to go down the route of being part of a buying group i.e flooring one or greendale etc but if needs must i guess i will have to.
Hi mate, whereabouts in the North are you ?if you dont mind me asking , Im in the North of Scotland aswell by the way. Im surprised Flanagans won't look at you, they were actively searching out accounts not so long ago. What about C.K Davie ?
am in Orkney just off the top of scotland... yeah i have c k davie in aberdeen... there ok but slightly smaller than what i am lookin for.. Flanagins have 2 very good accounts over here and they "dont feel it would make very good business to open another account" as it is the one shop here is limited to felt backed carpets only from them..
Ah Orkney, only been there once for a darts tournament as it happens ! Had a very enjoyable wekend though !! Didnt like the ferry much It seems to me everything is stacked against you, if its any consolation I didn't get accounts with Headlam or MCD at the first time of asking. Sorted now but I'm only a small fish - not a big threat to their 'big' customers. Cant think of anyone else, I only use the four companies we have mentioned already. Its a tricky one ! cheers
yeah its a bit of a pest indeed.. am sure al sort something with a bit of work yeah the boats not very good at all!!!! should be called titanic
Good Morning Sorry to hear your having problems with that amount of cash to spend you would have thought that they would be breaking down the door.. I think your problem is location on an Island, its a captive market and only so much carpet is going to be sold. If you go to individual suppliers you may have delivery problems so I can see why you want one company doing regular deliveries, i know from my point that delivery to Orkney is very expensive we can get items around the world faster than the Scotish islands. No one want to deliver. Cant think of anyone to sugest... Keep trying headlam or hire a truck go to the main land with money and fill it up once you are up and running and they see a shop that full...... They will want in!!!!!
hi Yeah am acually a bit shocked myself at the lack of intrest in a supplier. All i am looking for is someone to deliver the goods to aberdeen pier and i will sort the carriage costs from there but at present all scottish supplier are not wanting to play ball except c.k. davie. I will try maguires carpet suppliers in Durham as they deliver upto aberdeen upto 3 days a week and they have quite large selection of stuff. Just need a bed and suite supplier now.. lol
Get your shop full and then invite the reps round on opening day. Get a piper and lots of advertising, Free glass of whiskey for people coming in and the reps seeing all the stock and no commission in there pocket. Once you have opened I am sure they will want some of your action because it will be coming off there commissions and sales figures. Like I said an Island only has so much carpet to sell.
yeah not a bad idea.. the island is increasing in population rapidly. with 450 housing association house to be built next year and the same the following year and the private sector seeing a regular 200+ houses each year its not a bad time to be in the flooring/furniture sector up here.. better than its been for many years about ten years ago our main source of work was repeat custom very few new builds let alone the housing association putting up high numbers (fair enough most of the housing assoc one will prob be cheaper end stuff but none the less). plus the fact i have just tendered for 180 kitchen and level accsess shower rooms for them also. pretty confident of getting it as company i just left did all there work and i used to price it all. might accidentally leave a biz card lol
I know its a long way away for you but im just setting up an account with FDL in glasgow they have containers of cheap roll stock they buy in might be worth a look and truck im just a one man bad and they have been great with me! iI am going to use them for my bigger jobs and meet the wagon on route. Been great with me.
thanks for that... yeah i seen fdl indeed.. i wasnt sure whether they were a distributor or a public supplier.. al call them monday for sure anyone i should ask for? thanks!!!
