August 2023
ertonline.co.uk
On the right, Martins of Hawkhurst showcasing at the Kent County Show in the 90’s
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“We’ve been really busy with kitchens lately too. Our designer, Scott, has been working flat-out; he moved into kitchens from appliance sales and he has a wealth of product knowledge, which I know our customers really benefit from.” The majority of the retailer’s sales come via the store, but a growing percentage also come through its website. Sarah Jones looks after the website and social media while also working front-of-house in the store.
“Prior to the pandemic, our site was more of a shop window, but we quickly became transactional to allow for sales during lockdown,” explains Mr Martin. “We weren’t really big on social media then either, but Sarah has done a fantastic job and really helped us become more widely known, not just as a retailer in Kent, but within the industry as a whole.” When ERT took a visit down to Hawkhurst, we saw the ERT Awards trophy sitting pride of place on the work surface in front of the door as you walk into the showroom…
Q&A
Q: How did it feel to win the Best Independent Kitchen Retailer Showroom award at the ERT Awards? John Martin: We were genuinely quite shocked to be honest with you. We were up against some other really amazing showrooms, it was a tough category. But our whole team felt so proud to win this award and we were on cloud nine for ages after!
Everyone was so pleased for us too. We
spread the word to all our customers and we posted lots of stuff on social media! Our showroom offers so many different kitchen styles and finishes. And our staff add to the experience so customers can get a real sense of who we are and what we are about from the moment they step through the door. I think we’re making a big name for ourselves now, attracting more and more customers from further afield.
Q: You’re known for hosting cooking events in your store. Why is it important for you to do these? JM: My Dad was always passionate about in- store theatre and bringing products to life, so appliances have got to be working wherever possible. But we like to go one step further and cook things or bake some bread every now and then, as it just creates a homely and welcoming environment. >>
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