Williams & Co Eastbourne branch - born 25th Jan 2013

[Ray Stafford]

We are pleased to announce the birth of our new Eastbourne branch, weighing in at just under 4000 sq ft.

Signed the lease on 10 Alder close, Eastbourne today, the mezzanine contractors start on Monday for a week - then about 5 weeks to fit out means that we should be open about mid-march. Eastbourne will be our 25th branch.

Hastings was conceived a couple of weeks ago, so we are still in the morning sickness stage, but the lawyers will hopefully do their thing so that the fit out crew can go straight from Eastbourne on to Hastings, and get that one open by May.

The Eastbourne branch is pretty much staffed already, but if anyone knows of good merchant staff in the Hastings area, who might be looking for a new employer, please point them in our direction. We aren't looking for rocket scientists or pushy salesmen, just a good knowledge of plumbing gear and a real track record of excellent customer service.

The photo below is the Eastbourne building as it looks now. I may add some photos of the fit out as it progresses. Eastbourne based plumbers are welcome to nose in from Monday week - have a chat with John, Steve, Neil and the other lads doing the fit out, pick up a pricelist and an account application form.

 

[dave1]

Well done Ray. Sounds like good times for you guys, keep up the hard work.

 

[villa_tom]

How long has it taken you to build this up from one shop ray?

 

[Ray Stafford]

MickW started with a corner shop in Portsmouth in 1972. It took until 1986 to open the 2nd one in Fareham - thats when I joined. No 3 was Petersfield in 1991 - I opened that one, and was branch manager there, so I still have a soft spot for it. We got to 5 by about 1993, and then stalled - we went nearly 10 years trying to work out how to beat the nationals. No 6 was 2002, and then its really snowballed since then.

The key to it was 2 decisions - to go "trade only" and to have a single price policy - every tradesman pays the same price. That frees the staff from time-wasters and arguments about price, and lets them concentrate on customer service.

 

[kozak1968]

Good to see the independant expanding.... well done Ray

 

[villa_tom]

MickW started with a corner shop in Portsmouth in 1972. It took until 1986 to open the 2nd one in Fareham - thats when I joined. No 3 was Petersfield in 1991 - I opened that one, and was branch manager there, so I still have a soft spot for it. We got to 5 by about 1993, and then stalled - we went nearly 10 years trying to work out how to beat the nationals. No 6 was 2002, and then its really snowballed since then.

The key to it was 2 decisions - to go "trade only" and to have a single price policy - every tradesman pays the same price. That frees the staff from time-wasters and arguments about price, and lets them concentrate on customer service.

25 stores!!!! I thought the OP said 5th store

your blatantly a millionaire then mr stafford, I don't feel as cheeky now for asking you for those rad vents

 

[Ray Stafford]

25 stores!!!! I thought the OP said 5th store

your blatantly a millionaire then mr stafford, I don't feel as cheeky now for asking you for those rad vents

I wish! Unless that lottery ticket comes up tomorrow...

 

[Pipedream]

Any chance of a branch in Wales ?

 

[villa_tom]

I wish! Unless that lottery ticket comes up tomorrow...

Why? You ten pound short of a million then?

 

[Keefy]

Good to see the independant expanding.... well done Ray

^ That. Congrats Ray!

 

[Ray Stafford]

Any chance of a branch in Wales ?

Sorry Pipedream, nothing planned in Wales. Maybe one day.

 

[Mike Jackson]

Looking forward to seeing the Hastings one up and running. It would be good to have a fixed price for stuff so that I know how much to quote without contacting the merchants every five minutes.

I may know someone that will be interested Ray, I'll have a chat with them next week and see if they are interested.

 

[TBServices]

Congratulations ray! Expansion can only be a good thing if it brings you closer to opening a Yorkshire branch

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

you need to open one up in wales next ray preferably close to me LOL

 

[clarky101]

Nice one ray.... In Bexhill & use Sps & Graham's at mo,when in Eastbourne/ Hastings it's PTS, so looking forward to opening an account with ya....

 

[REDSAW]

congratulations on your new acquisitions and the best of luck with them ray..

still think you are discriminating with us up north tho.lol

is there any of a similar business model up here?

 

[Ray Stafford]

still think you are discriminating with us up north tho.lol

is there any of a similar business model up here?

Not that I know of, although I don't really know the independent scene north of watford. I know some of the names, but I have never had the need to study the business models.

 

[TBServices]

congratulations on your new acquisitions and the best of luck with them ray..

still think you are discriminating with us up north tho.lol

is there any of a similar business model up here?

Is Hargreaves an Indy?

 

[dancinplumba]

Is Hargreaves an Indy?

yes but they have a lot of branch's

 

[REDSAW]

its the trade only one price that appeals to me....wait a minute...screwfix/plumbfix!.lol

 

[Ray Stafford]

Being an independent isn't about size, its about state of mind. Mostly its about the people who own the business also working in the business, so they understand it, rather than anonymous shareholders.

PLCs have to think about the share price, quarterly earning statements and what the city or the parent company will think. Indy's can just decide to do something because its right for the business and the customers.

We call the smoking shelter outside our Fareham branch "the boardroom", or "conference room A" because its where a most of the decisions get made.

 

[Ray Stafford]

its the trade only one price that appeals to me....wait a minute...screwfix/plumbfix!.lol

Yes, Plumbfix would be the nearest to our model - if they had bricks and mortar stores.

Screwfix will serve anyone though...

 

[mutley racers]

you're cheaper than plumbfix though

 

[Ray Stafford]

you're cheaper than plumbfix though

On some things - not on everything. They are quite good on price. I reckon we can kick there asses on service though... at least on our patch we can.

 

[mutley racers]

well the boiler quote i got from you (which Bg stole the job with their 10yr warranty) was cheaper than plumbfix, pts and grahams

 

[REDSAW]

Yes, Plumbfix would be the nearest to our model - if they had bricks and mortar stores.

Screwfix will serve anyone though...

thats my gripe and there not that good a price lately

 

[TBServices]

I hate the fact that you walk in to screwfix and get served by total muppets who got rejected on their asda warehouse applications.

The don't even have "service". They can't do anything for you other than punch in the catalogue numbers.

 

[vern]

Is Hargreaves an Indy?

Yes all owned by a guy called Gordon from Burnley, they use F & P for their boilers, but prices went sky when BSS bought F & P wholesale out

 

[TBServices]

Yes all owned by a guy called Gordon from Burnley, they use F & P for their boilers, but prices went sky when BSS bought F & P wholesale out

I might open an account at F&P and start one lol

 

[dancinplumba]

Yes all owned by a guy called Gordon from Burnley, they use F & P for their boilers, but prices went sky when BSS bought F & P wholesale out

yeah, dont use hargs now