ADVERTISING FEATURE | NEFF
Banging the drum
Drumoak Kitchens celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, sharing the celebration with one of its longest running partners – NEFF. For managing director Andy Gauld, that decades-long relationship is a key part of their success
independent kitchen retailer, the mutually beneficial partnership between the showroom and the brands that supply their products is the most essential and often the most valuable.
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When it works well, that partnership can grow and develop into a genuine relationship fuelled by loyalty, respect and knowledge that when help is needed, it will come.
Drumoak Kitchens, based near Aberdeen, is one retailer that not only understands that concept, but can demonstrate it by the continuing relationship with one of the leading brands in the sector – NEFF. NEFF is also celebrating its 50th year of trading in the UK and its relationship with Drumoak goes back decades, so far in fact that no one can remember exactly when it started. This long-term commitment to each other has seen them both through thick and thin to the point where they can celebrate their significant milestones together. Drumoak Kitchens was founded 50 years ago by Neil Gow, who sadly passed away earlier this year, initially beginning as a straightforward building firm.
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ut of all unique elements that come together to make up a successful
“Neil started the business from nothing,” explains managing director Andy Gauld (main picture). “He was just doing small extensions, but he quickly realised that those extensions needed kitchens and he could probably do them too. So he moved to the yard on the site of the former Drum railway station on the historic Deeside railway, where he built a workshop to make pine kitchens.”
In fact, the first name for the company was simply ‘The Pine Workshops’, but they realised that they were capable of offering much more and Drumoak
Kitchens was born.
While still manufacturing their own traditional-style kitchens they started servicing the more contemporary market with Häcker around 20 years ago, building that up to 50% of the business today.
“Now we have 22 employees and most of them have been here a long time, which adds up to an incredible amount of experience,” Gauld explains. “For example there’s a guy in the workshop who’s been here 42 years and, in fact, I’ve been here 41 years myself. I started as an apprentice
plumber and electrician and have been here ever since.”
This is classic independent retailer stuff, of course – giving the company the best of both worlds with the ability to create bespoke pieces when they need them, and their reputation travels far. Only a few weeks ago, a huge bespoke lounge unit was shipped to Shetland.
And they once even made some furniture for a relatively close neighbour at Balmoral Castle…
“I’m really proud of our reputation,” Gauld says. “And we’ve been here a long time, so we’ve had loads of customers who we’ve done five or six kitchens for, as well as for
· October 2022
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