Celebrate Independent Merchants Day on 4^th July!

In the USA, the Fourth of July is Independence Day, a day of celebration to commemorate the independence from Great Britain.  In Great Britain, the Fourth of July is “Independents Day”, a day to celebrate our nation’s independent merchants and the unique products and services they offer.

When it comes to finding products for the home, shoppers are increasingly opting for independent merchants over the larger chain stores known for generic products and lack of personal service.   

The benefits of buying from an independent merchant are numerous:

1. Genuine specialists of particular products, with extensive product knowledge and expertise, helping you make the right choice for your particular situation and needs;
2. Such specialist independents, have the ability to offer bespoke and/or unique products that you won’t see anywhere else in the country;
3. The encouragement of diversity on our high streets;
4. No annoying automated phone service or call centres; phones are answered by human beings and you can usually speak to the same person saving you time;
5. No intermediaries; meaning you can speak directly to the relevant person, saving time and potential confusion;
6. No rigid rules and standardised systems; independents can often tailor their service to suit your individual needs.

When it comes to specialised niche products, such as larger interior products for the home, the relevant showroom will often be a destination in its own right.  Put simply, it’s worth travelling to see a comprehensive range of a particular type of product “in the flesh” and under one roof, particularly if there is also expert advice on offer.  The savings of time and cost can be phenomenal, and the end products are more likely to right for your particular needs and design ideals. Such specialist showrooms will rarely be located in the city centre because they don’t need to be.  Such specialist independents don’t generally rely on passing trade, and need relatively substantial square footage to display their product range.  

A perfect example of this is Feature Radiators, the UK’s leading radiator retailer and an independent merchant that operates successfully from the small West Yorkshire town of Bingley. 

Based in Bingley’s Old Victorian Post Office, Feature Radiators is a one-stop port of call for anyone wanting stylish, high performance heating at competitive prices.  This award winning company offers a selection of the best contemporary, designer, traditional cast iron and electric radiators and heated towel rails on the market in terms of quality, design and value for money. They have over 250 styles on display in their showroom from where they offer expert advice, unrivalled customer service and nationwide delivery. 

So on the 4^th July, if you have shopping to do, whether it be an organic chicken, a picture frame or a household radiator, take the time to consider buying from an independent and do your bit to mark the day.

For more information on Feature Radiators specifically, then visit their showroom at The Old Post Office, 134-140 Main Street, Bingley, BD16 2HL, call their expert team on 01274 567789 or browse their website http://www.featureradiators.co.uk

Feature Radiators celebrates excellent customer service

Last week (3rd – 7th October), Feature Radiators celebrated National Customer Service week, which coincided with the company receiving the ISO 9001 accreditation, the internationally recognised quality standard for supplying goods and services.

Each year, the Institute of Customer Service organises National Customer Service Week to encourage companies to focus on quality and the importance of fulfilling customers’ needs in respect of the service provided.

Feature Radiators is a prime example of an organisation that prides itself on providing a high level of customer service. They monitor this by customer feedback. Whether positive or negative, Feature Radiators believes all feedback is valuable, as it gives them the opportunity to build upon what they do well, and to improve upon what could be better.

A couple of examples of recent feedback received by the team at Feature Radiators are set out below.

“The guy doing the work said that whoever he spoke to at Feature Rads [Radiators] had been very helpful about how to join the radiator that was in several parts, so thanks again. I can’t fault the service you’ve provided and would have no hesitation in recommending you to anyone.”

Andrew

“I thank you for your kind offer to still help me and I realise that you are in no way obliged to make such an offer. Many thanks once again. Whenever I have occasion to contact your company I am always impressed by the bright and friendly attitude and you seem genuinely interested in helping your customers both new and existing.”
John
Feature Radiators’ excellent reputation is also reflected by the wealth of celebrity customers that they supply radiators to, many of which have themselves provided constructive comments:

“I located the rather amazing Feature Radiators who are making me a "landscape" towel rail in a sprayed coloured finish at the excellent price of £300”

Naomi Cleaver, celebrity interior designer, product designer and TV presenter. http://naomicleaver.typepad.com/naomis-new-home/

“Helena - thank you SO much for all your help. Very unEnglish, and very much appreciated.”

Ruth Watson, Presenter of Channel 4’s Country House Rescue, Owner of the Crown and Castle Hotel, Suffolk and best known as the original Hotel Inspector.

Feature Radiators are also not afraid to publish feedback from customers whose orders did not run as smoothly as they would have liked and this approach reflects the transparent nature of their organisation. They aim for perfection from initial enquiry, through to delivery and beyond, but at the same time are realistic enough to acknowledge that at the end of the day we are only human, and issues will arise from time to time. They know that its how any problems and issues are dealt with that set them aside as a company. Feature Radiators are keen to listen to their customers, give useful advice and solutions, and above all, they act decisively, promptly and effectively. The company realises that dealing with a problem in a manner that matches or exceeds customers’ expectations is vital.

“Thank you very much for your swift reply. It is very refreshing to see a company taking responsibility for their products and dealing with product-related problems so professionally.”

Ralf

As well as their positive approach to receiving customer comments, Feature Radiators were also keen to be recognised independently by an official body and expert in quality. This has led to them being awarded the ISO 9001 accreditation by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service that recognises that Feature Radiators has achieved the standard required to provide their customers’ with confidence in the quality of their products and the provision of their services. Feature Radiators now has official permission to use the UKAS and ISO 9001 logos, which are recognised internationally and illustrate that a company has the procedures and policies in place to offer a quality service to all its customers.

For a radiator specialist with an officially accredited quality system and excellent reputation, then visit Feature Radiators at their showroom in The Old Post Office, 134-140 Main Street, Bingley, West Yorkshire. BD16 2HL, contact them on 01274 567789 or view their website http://www.featureradiators.co.uk

Interiors Shopping around Bingley, West Yorkshire

Are you looking to renovate a property or looking for an iconic piece of design for your home? Are you reluctant to visit the many chain stores that we are now so familiar with due to their generic products and lack of personal service? Then why not look to a local independent merchant for products to upgrade your home.



You don’t need to be in a big metropolis to find help on your quest for stylish interiors. Even in small UK towns, there is a wealth of high quality products and services available from local businesses. Often retailers may be in more random locations but as real specialists, selling niche products, their shop may be a destination in it’s own right.



We decided to do some research into what interior design businesses are situated in our local area and we chose Bingley, West Yorkshire as our test area. We wanted to see what independent merchants are situated in a small British town, such as Bingley, and what they can offer the style conscious homeowner.



Bingley is a small market town with a population of just under 20,000 and is situated in the Aire Valley, West Yorkshire, close to both Leeds and Bradford and on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales.

Bingley is situated in the heart of the UK’s textile industry and its Victorian mills still illustrate its history of producing woollen goods. This expertise is reflected in the wealth of carpet suppliers in the area.



For instance, Carpet Time, based in Bingley, is one of Bradford’s best-known carpet retailers. Started in 1947, this family business has adapted over the year’s to suit ever-changing consumer demands adapting their flooring range to include the latest in high quality laminates and vinyls.



Another legacy from the industrial revolution is Salts Mill, which is now a real destination in West Yorkshire when it comes to interiors. The Home store on the mill’s main floor offers stunningly presented designer homewares and the ultimate in classic furniture; Mies van der Rohe chairs sit alongside Alessi kettles and Phillipe Starck lemon juicers. The Mill, Saltaire also sells affordable art for the home with a wide range of posters and prints available from the bookshop.



As the UK’s leading radiator retailer, Feature Radiators, based in The Old Post Office on Bingley's Main Street, is the one-stop port of call for anyone wanting stylish, high performance heating at competitive prices. This award winning company offers a selection of the best contemporary, designer, traditional cast iron and electric radiators and heated towel rails on the market in terms of quality, design and value for money. With over 250 styles on display in their showroom, expert advice, unrivalled customer service and nationwide delivery, we are widely recognized as the UK's leading radiator specialist.



For textiles, The Design Mill at Castlefields Industrial Estate offers supply and design services for curtains and blinds from a range of fabulous fabrics at discounted prices. With Bradford and Keighley close by, Bingley also is ideally located for sourcing Asian fabrics due to Airedale’s connections to the East. Asian textiles are readily available from a huge array of merchants around the city, most notably Bombay Stores, Shearbridge Road, Bradford, which is the UK’s largest Asian department store.



It’s clear to see that big cities and chain stores are not the only option when it comes to sourcing the right interiors products. Local independent merchants operating around the country can offer a personalised service and as specialists in a particular field, their knowledge of products and the market makes choosing the features for your home not only easy and uncomplicated but also enjoyable.



For more information on shopping in Bingley, then contact Bingley’s Chamber of Trade and Commerce.



For more information on Feature Radiators specifically, then visit their showroom at The Old Post Office, 134-140 Main Street, Bingley, BD16 2HL, call their expert team on 01274 567789 or browse their website www.featureradiators.co.uk