Why I converted my showroom to Schmidt
What seemed like a nightmare for Dennis Evans turned into one of the most rewarding experiences of his life–with his sales up by half compared to last year! After his showroom brand suddenly closed their UK operations, he was left with an expensive showroom full of its products but no way to supply them to customers.
“We were initially going to go solo as the showroom had been here in Warrington for 12 years,” Dennis says.
“Then we looked at Schmidt. The transition was seamless and absolutely painless for us. Schmidt made it like that. So simple. Schmidt have committed to a big team here in the UK, all living in this country, and are keen to understand the UK market.
“They have regular monthly meetings, share best practice, dealers support each other, and if we need help, it’s forthcoming. There’s also a new marketing promotion every month that they contribute towards and you can overlay your own promotions according to your individual calendar.”
Dennis says Schmidt’s culture aligned with his own, and that was key to his decision to rebrand.
“It’s a family company, run by the founder’s granddaughter, and that brings a different kind of values to their business. It’s not all about the share value or asset value, it’s about the people value. The employees had been there forever and most lived in the town.
“Schmidt are very forward-looking in their business, even selling items designed by Christian Lacroix. When you’re with a client you can say ‘Do you realise you can have something that no-one else intown will have?’ They’re usually impressed with that.
“The flexibility within Schmidt has been a welcomed change. If we make a phone call, we’ll get somebody extremely helpful on the other end–and we’ve even been able to cut delivery times by25% where necessary.”
Most importantly, Dennis saw an immediate impact on his sales and profits after partnering with Schmidt.
“Sales are well in excess of last year – 50% up, in fact – and that’s in this economic climate,” he says. “We love Schmidt. They’re hungry and on a mission in the UK, they intend to do well and are putting the resources and energy behind it.”
Four reasons to consider rebranding
- Strength in numbers: a network of like-minded business owners who have been there, done that and can help steer you in the right direction
- Brand recognition: internationally renowned for beautiful interiors, Schmidt’s scale brings you recognition, brand and systems
- A proven formula: benefit from unique insights and operational support that’s proven to help you succeed
- Greater income: with serious buying power from Schmidt’s scale, you can drive better returns and build a valuable asset
Contact us to learn more
We want to partner with the right people, just as you do, so there’s no hard sell from us. Complete the details below to set up a call with Sophie or Laura to discuss the opportunity and explore your options.
Sophie Cornish
Business Development Manager
Laura Gheorghe
Business Development Manager