Secrets of our success

EKCO’s own qualified tradesmen
One of the major decisions they took right from the outset was to employ their own team of craftsmen instead of ad-hoc subcontractors. Stewart says “This has meant that our customers can enjoy a consistent, top-quality service time after time, because our tradesmen are used to working with the high-end kitchens and bathrooms we offer. We are also one of the few companies in Scotland whose team is qualified to template and cut Corian worktops.”

This initial key decision has resulted in around 40% of the company’s business coming from direct recommendations. “This is a pretty good figure considering that we’re still a fairly young company,” explains Stewart, “and we aim to increase that figure significantly in the years to come.”

Another key reason for the company’s success is the quality of the design team. Stewart continues “When people call into our showroom they are first and foremost, impressed by what they see in terms of our kitchen and bathroom displays. However, the other key factor in our success is that the designers have a genuine desire to help our customers achieve the look they really want. The industry norm is to often employ suited salesmen’, but we much prefer the relaxed, informal approach and really getting to know what our customers are looking for. We just believe that this is an altogether more professional approach.”

Quality at a fair price
The decision to base the main showroom in Uphall instead of Edinburgh was a strategic one and it meant that the company didn’t have to pay the high business rates associated with the Capital. Stewart says, “This means that our customers can have top quality kitchens from famous brand names such as English Rose and Wrighton at a fair price.” It has also meant that the company is well placed geographically to service East and Central Scotland; and now with the new showroom opening in Glasgow, the West of Scotland also.

Another huge plus point is that EKCO is one of the few companies in Scotland to provide both kitchens and bathrooms In fact, only five years after it began, EKCO is now among the top 10 bathroom providers in Scotland with quality names such as Matki, KEUCO and Grohe under its belt.