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O
ur adopted retailer Harrison James is forging ahead with the opening of their new showroom, however, the journey to finding the right suppliers has been anything but smooth sailing.
“It’s been a real mixed bag,” says Harry weaver, contracts manager and husband of managing director Olivia Weaver. “Half of our suppliers have gone under or just aren’t reliable anymore, while the other half I’d say are the real strong players in the market.” The loss of key partners, such as their previous kitchen supplier, has been a particular headache. “Replacing them was a nightmare,” Harry says. “We’ve had to completely rethink our offering for worktops, moving more towards granite, as laminate has become so difficult to source.” The challenges haven’t been limited to just worktops, as the couple
has faced issues of varying degrees across the board – from kitchens and appliances to bedrooms. “Our kitchen supplier was a disaster for us,” Harry explains. “Every single order had a problem, and when our key contact left the business, it just went downhill from there.” Fortunately, the retailer has found a glimmer of hope in a new kitchen
partner. “They’ve been a bit of a saving grace,” says managing director Olivia. “Definitely better than what we experienced previously.” However, the frustrations with kitchen suppliers seems to be an
industry-wide problem. “We’ve actually had discussions about whether we should just focus on bathrooms and drop kitchens altogether,” Harry reveals. “The constant issues, from damages to delays, it’s just become too much of a headache. We’ve had to take a much harder line with suppliers now. No more paying upfront – we’re withholding payment until issues are resolved.” Despite the setbacks, the team at Harrison James has remained
resilient, adopting a more proactive approach to finding new suppliers. As Olivia explains: “We’re doing a lot more background checks now. Checking credit scores, ownership structures, the whole nine yards. We just can’t afford any more headaches.” But it’s not all doom and gloom for the new retailer. Their partnership with bathroom supplier Claygate has been a shining example of how
Harry Weaver on… paying for displays
Having been burned by previous suppliers, I believe that we should be getting displays free of charge. I don’t necessarily mean that the items themselves have to be free – I’m ok with us being set sales targets that must be hit over the year. And I don’t mind paying for something if it’s sellable.
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We need to be able to trust that a supplier is going to deliver on their
Service with a smile. Olivia and Harry Weaver (left and right) with their Claygate Distribution driver Mick Page (centre)
promises and be upfront with us if any issues come up Olivia Weaver
" March 2025 kbbreview 53
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