RETAILING


Where service is King M


ore than 40 years ago, Tony King, having forged a career with Woolworths and then heading up its


third-largest


store in the UK, set his sights on running his own empire. He joined forces with his father and opened a small DIY store in Bracknell. The business grew and the pair were soon running two greengrocers and two hardware stores but, Tony explains: “We reached a point where we had four stores that were going nowhere”. So, when a site in Sandhurst came on the market, they jumped at the chance. That store is now Kings DIY’s flagship and has expanded into neighbouring units over the years, so that it now boasts four shop fronts, a timber yard at the back and a kitchen fittings business, Kings Kitchens, on the side. A second site, in Tadley, was


purchased in 2000, and extended significantly seven years later,


20 DIY WEEK 12 APRIL 2019


which saw the shop’s footprint double. Today the business is run by Tony King and his son Simon, who manages the Tadley store. The kitchens


store is franchised out


to Tony’s former partner and is a thriving business. Tony refers to the Sandhurst outlet as “the mother shop”, where he explains the business, ‘as a whole’, is dealt with. Although he admits it is “a bit of an animal to run, with fulfilments and all sorts”, it does allow the business to buy at competitive rates when working as a team with the Tadley site. Detailing Kings’ offer, Tony says:


“We sell everything and anything in DIY, housebuilding and decorating” but explains that its broad range, which also includes pet and bird food, housewares, and electricals, can be fluid. “It is a business that changes regularly,” he says. “We’re not reliant on anything. I sold two sledges this morning and it’s not even snowing! As an independent, we can adapt and change quickly if we need to.”


Always fully stocked A key part of the service Kings provides is making sure all shelves and pegs are fully stocked, with no gaps in sight. “There are a lot of distress purchases in our category, so we have to have everything in stock,” Tony explains. “Visitors to our store will find that everything is full. We have to be prepared so that, if someone wants six of something, we’ve got it in.” Fortunately an EPOS system helps the team keep on top of everything.


The business also strives to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to new innovations,


and trends. Kings has identified


key opportunities


technologies recently in


lighting and smart home; adapting and expanding its offer accordingly to make sure it stays on trend and can meet consumer demand for new launches. “We are always looking for new opportunities,” says Tony. “In electricals there has been a revolution in lighting. The LEDs that have come in have really gone


Family-run Kings DIY prides itself on excellent customer service and high-quality hardware. Fiona Garcia speaks to owner Tony King to find out what makes the business, shortlisted for Retailer of the Year in the DIY Week Awards, to find out what makes it stand out in a crowded market.


through a journey and are such an improvement on what was initially available in the market.” Tony continues: “Whether it’s filament LEDs that look like retro lightbulbs, or decorative pendants and chandeliers – right through to WIFI lightbulbs – there is a whole plethora of lighting coming in and we are working to keep up with that. Lightbulbs are expanding and we are dabbling in ambient lighting. We have a big display of that at the moment. It really adds to the look in store. We also have smart doorbells coming in now.” However, Tony believes there is a balance to strike between keeping on top of trends and timing any new introductions so, that you can offer a price point that suits your customer base. “The technological revolution is fast approaching our industry and it’s across the board,” he says. “It’s about getting these things in at the right time because, if you buy in too early, then the price is too high and people won’t pay it. I really like the phrase


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