Magnet Kitchens

Magnet is a British kitchen retailer operating in over 200 locations across the UK supplying products under the Magnet and Magnet Trade brands. The company has over 2,000 employees and its headquarters are in Darlington, County Durham. Magnet was listed on the London Stock Exchange and was once a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index but is now part of Nobia UK, a division of the Nobia group which is listed on the Swedish Stock Exchange.' The Nobia division also includes brands such as Gower, Hygena and Norema.

History

Formation and early years

Magnet was established in Bingley, West Yorkshire in 1918 by Tom Duxbury. Legend has it that Duxbury traded his horse for a firelighting company and named his new company Magnet after the horse. During the 1920s Magnet pioneered the mass production of joinery, door and window products and soon began supplying joinery components for major construction projects. New operations were opened in Keighley, Grays and Knaresborough to satisfy demand for the growing business.

1960s

In 1960 the company opened its first branch in Bingley. This concept of the company having their own outlets quickly develops in other towns in the UK.

1970s

Kitchen products were introduced in 1970 and soon after a new factory in Darlington was established to manufacture joinery and kitchen furniture. In 1975 Magnet became Britain’s largest manufacturer of joinery products with 115 branches. In 1975 Magnet merges with timber group Southern-Evans to form Magnet & Southerns. The combined business, following the merger, exceeded 200 branches.

1980s

Magnet logo from the 1980s

In 1984 Magnet & Southerns became a founder member of the FTSE-100 share index. The company continued to expand during the 1980s with new manufacturing sites in Rotherham, Thornton, Penrith, Burnley and Deeside opened together with the acquisition of the Thomas Easthams kitchen business. Seeing the growth of the burgeoning DIY sector, the company decided to move into the retail kitchen market and opened its first retail kitchen showrooms in 1985.^[1] In 1988 Magnet sold the Southern-Evans timber business in preparation for a £629m management buy out which took place the following year.^[2] Soon after difficulties in the UK economy led to a severe downturn in the housing market and a significant downturn in sales. Magnet, unable to pay its bankers, fought to remain cash positive to survive. In 1989 Tom Duxbury led a management buyout of the business.^[3] The buyout failed quite quickly and the banks took control of the business.^[3]

1990s

Magnet logo from the 1990s

In 1990 separate Retail and Trade divisions were established to maximize customer service for these very different market sectors. Factories in Easthams, Thornton, Burnley, Deeside, Gillingham and Lincoln were closed with work transferred to Darlington and Keighley. In 1994 Berisford acquired the company^[4] and planned to re-establish Magnet as the Number One Kitchen and Joinery company in the UK. The company’s financial performance stabilized but a lack of investment and a long running industrial dispute^[5] meant that the company did not see any significant growth.

2000s

In 2001, Magnet was acquired by Nobia, a Swedish-based kitchen company for £134m.^[3] Significant investments were made in the company with a multimillion-pound showroom refurbishment programme^[6] and the introduction of the Trade Concept, an initiative to grow the company’s market share in the trade channel. To support the increased demand for Magnet products, further investment was made in the Darlington site converting the manufacturing operation into a modern assemble to order facility.^[7]

Operations

Magnet

Current Magnet Retail logo

Magnet retail branch in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire

Magnet supplies kitchens to retail consumers via 170 showrooms. The company primarily targets the middle market and offers a wide variety of kitchen designs together with a comprehensive range of worktops, sinks and taps, electrical appliances and kitchen accessories. Other services offered include a home survey, free CAD planning, expert installation and a post installation visit. The company's Full Circle Service process guides customers throughout the kitchen buying process from design through to installation.

In 2003 Magnet's retail showroom concept won Best UK Retail Interior by Retail Interiors Magazine and has subsequently refurbished the majority of its estate in line with this footprint. Magnet was the first national kitchen retailer to achieve Trustmark accreditation, a scheme designed to drive out the cowboys in the home improvement sector.^[8] Trustmark provides customers with a two-year guarantee on installation and payment protection.

Magnet Trade

Current Magnet Trade logo

Magnet Trade branch in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire

Magnet Trade sells only to registered trade customers through its network of 159 branches. The majority of customers are local tradesmen such as joiners, builders and kitchen fitters. Magnet Trade also supplies organizations in the RSL sector such as Local Authorities and Housing Associations. Alongside a comprehensive kitchen offering (cabinets, appliances, worktops, sinks & taps), the company supplies a wide variety of joinery (Doors, Windows, Timber, Wood flooring, Hardware). Products are supplied from stock held on site in the branch warehouse. Free kitchen planning, made to measure timber window ordering and local delivery services are also offered.

Magnet Trade has a separate in-store environment and brand identity, in order to clearly differentiate it from the retail business.

Mixed sites

Magnet mixed site in Staples Corner, London

Magnet mixed site in Guiseley, West Yorkshire

The majority of Magnet branches have both a trade and retail presence in the same building. There are separate entrances for each different customer group which are clearly designated.

See also

• Nobia

References

External links

• Magnet Retail
• Magnet Trade