Following a train of thought from the "what pencils do you use" thread; I wonder why tile shops - Topps excepted here- hang behind other retailers in widening their field and sell such things as might be useful in doing tiling? along with other areas they might make sales with - bathroom bits and pieces for instance. You see it happening everywhere else. I think it's an example of how little most think they have to do with the fixing trades. Always at arms length - well many of them - what's your experience ?
What bits specifically ? I'm not a buyer for Topps so don't know what goes through their minds . I do have contact with our trade department though , so if you think that there is anything that we should be stocking if it's feasable I can always put it forward . We obviously aren't sent up as a company to be holding copper pipe and the likes .
John - well I did say except Topps. Since they really got in their stride tooling has been a big part of the stores. It creates add-on sales for them and leads trade customers in as well as the main Topps focus of retail. (I noted the lift in trade reach out by Topps after 2008) My point is that different tile shops might look at different ways to create more store interest leading to sales ( hopefully ) one of those being things to tilers. There will be some that do, and some that don't already for sure. I recognise store space for selling tiles is always an issue. Many have have increased shop sizes over the last decade. The other example, of a different style, on the large scale is Fired Earth, who introduced compatible products to become more of an 'interiors store' led by tiles. Not many follow Topps, or FE direction it seems. Just wondered what others thought of this.
All shops should be selling ancilliary products like wipes and tools to go with the silicone they sell. Marmox washers to go with the (warmup) boards. Duck tape to go with ufh kits. Brushes and rollers for primers. You get the picture. It's not rocket science....
Yup good examples GD- simple stuff. Might make a difference in sales over a year they'd be surprised at.
Ha, I have had talks with a few large businesses and put across my idea's and they look at you with blank faces?. I have found the stores that like to mix things up and take on what their trade customers ask for are the ones with good trade bases and top end products. They go out of their way to attract new customers and improve on what they do. Keep things fresh and interesting.
No problem , I was just trying to get an idea of what you guys are wanting extra to what is stocked . We are always been asked what else do you think tranders may want . I have raised this a couple of times with the warmup rep , but to no joy . I don't think that warmup supply them direct . I'll ask him again when I see him .
Dam stupid if they dont ,local shop here has everything wet saws Sigmas cement sheet vanitys bathes floorheating even roller doors (insulated ones) saves me running all over town
I know shops who hardly even stock silicon, total disgrace IMO. Only one of my locals stock ditra too, they do stock sigma cutters though but when I tell them about new max series cutters etc I get funny looks. Most shops are struggling in my area so new lines might be awkward for them to consider. Washboy sponges, wedges and spacers are a must IMO as have to be trade priced as online retailers sell them cheap. I better get on my knees here, grout is starting to dry. Lol
TCH sell them John so why not Topps?another thing I find strange is Topps sell ultra/Toppfix!but no primer to suit there products,in my eyes this voids warrantys.
No idea sorry , as for primer we do a toppfix primer 5L . Forgive me just found on the system warmup washers . That's even new to me . So they are available .
oh right cheers jj!so can my local store get some in if I ask,cos I do use Toppfix products aswell as BAL.
You may also not be aware we are not just a trade shop we also manfuacture a wide range of Geometric floor tiles and make Period Embossed Tiles and Mouldings. for futher information look on our web site .
Hope you caught that grout Joe. The online retailers stole a march on tile shops in selling to the trade for sure. And of course this is only say 5 to 8 years back to the start ( realistically ) of online use for most of us. They have to keep to their promised standard of delivery of course to be of any use - and have stocks to service a potentially large customer base. Quick plug; I have used Trimline for many years - phone call to a human, not online - they always keep their service spot on next day, and rarely without anything.
Happy to say we stock pretty much everything mentioned on here so far but always keen to stock what traders want to keep them coming.
