When Brexit forced a major kitchen retailer to exit the UK market, Dennis Evans faced a critical decision: go independent or find a new partner for his established Warrington showroom. After evaluating 16 different companies, he chose Schmidt – and hasn't looked back since.
'The store wasn't even finished, the signage wasn't up, and we hadn't advertised at all, 'Evans reveals, 'however, sales were still 50% up from last year.' This remarkable growth came during what many consider challenging economic conditions.
Photo: Schmidt.
Freedom to grow your way
Evans isn't your typical showroom owner. With decades of retail leadership at Woolworths, Somerfield, and the Co-op under his belt, he's seen his share of corporate transitions. Yet, the switch to Schmidt stands out. 'The transition was seamless and absolutely painless for us,' he notes. 'Schmidt made it like that. So simple.'
What caught Evans' attention wasn't just Schmidt's product quality – it was their approach to partnership. 'As a showroom owner, you want to use your entrepreneurial skills,' he explains. 'You want the freedom to run your own business.' Schmidt's model delivers exactly that, offering dealers independence while providing robust support.
The results speak for themselves. Despite the showroom's informal soft launch, customers have been streaming in. 'People have been coming in and loving the product,' Evans says. 'We've just told them to take us as they find us at the moment.'
Innovation meets tradition
Behind this success lies Schmidt's distinctive business philosophy. As a family-owned company operating for over 60 years, they've maintained their craftsman roots while embracing innovation. Today, Schmidt's reach extends across 22 countries, with 900 showrooms worldwide supported by 6,900 network employees. Their state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities produce 800 furniture solutions daily, ensuring consistent quality and timely delivery.
Schmidt's made-to-measure kitchen and interior solutions set new standards in the industry. Their innovative extra-deep units offer 20% more storage space – a key selling point for homeowners. Dealers benefit from exclusive product lines and industry-leading solutions, including exciting B2B opportunities that open new revenue streams.
Support that delivers
For Evans, it's the combination of autonomy and backing that makes the difference. 'Schmidt are flexible, not full of jobsworths,' he says. 'If we make a phone call, we'll get somebody extremely helpful on the other end.'
Looking ahead, Evans is optimistic about the partnership's potential. 'Schmidt are hungry and on a mission in the UK,' he observes. 'They intend to do well and are putting the resources and energy behind it.'
More information:
Schmidt
www.home-design-schmidt.uk