March 8th, 2010
When we swopped websites we lost all the dimension drawings and sizes that our customers use to decide which size fireplace and mantel they require and also what size opning dimesnions they require.
Our website has been without this for a few weeks as we have been designing new templates which offer the clearest information available for all our fireplaces.
These dimensions are to be found on any product screen and can be viewed by clicking on the Dimensions tab as shown below this will then take you on to another page where the diagrams will appear with all the relevant dimensions associated with each item
When you have clicked on that tab you will be presented with a screen that looks like this which as you can see contains details of the size of the Cast Iron Fireplace insert which is followed by the dimesnions of all the surrounds which are availble with this package (three in this case) and finally it shows you the opening dimesnions that are required in your chimney breast for this fireplace to be a perfect fit
I think we have this perfectly set out and im 100% sure our customers will appreciate all this info on hand and the fact it is so easy to understand.
Also im very pleased we have managed to add it on its own page as it looks far neater than it being on one page we have always done it like this even on our old website so our customers are used to using the info we offer in this way so it really makes sense to continue to make our website the simplest to use online and to offer our customers the most information in the best format online and to top it all off we still offer the best Service so why shop elsewhere
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March 7th, 2010
Since our new website has gone live we seem to have had a little run on this fireplace package in both 42″ and 48″ mantel sizes but strangely enough most of them have been for solid fuel use.
I say strangely as the coronet does not have the widest opening for solid fuel use and is more suited to burning coal than wood due to the restricted opening width.
Dont get me wrong you can burn logs on this fireplace but something larger like the Jubilee or Henley etc is more useable as a solid fuel fireplace.
I do understand that a lot of our customers but them for solid fuel so they light them on a few occasions and do not rely on them as a main heat source.
Im sure the attraction of this fireplace is its simple polished band and the fact it can be used in a small timber surround of around 42″ which is perfect for even the smallest chimney breast.
We do offer a 48″ version to but dont tend to supply it in 54″ as the insert looks a little lost in a mantel opening width of 36″
So if you want too take advantage of this weeks hottest fireplace just click on the photo below and it will take you straight throught to the item with all the Fuel options and mantel sizes you could require and as with all our featured fireplaces it is in stock in all sizes,fuel options and mantel widths ready to be delivered or collected
Coronet and Pine Bedford
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March 6th, 2010
As i said last week we have a huge amount of Cast iron fireplaces arriving to us next week and to be honest just in time too as we are out of Pembroke Black Fireplace and only have a few of the other items we stock left.
After such a busy week my job has been made easier in moving things around as alot of the crates we keep this items in are nearly empty which means we can remove them and replace crates with full ones and then just recrate all the oddments together.
So space will be made in the morning for the deliveries arriving Wednesday, Thursday and Friday this week.
Im sure John from our suppliers will be sick of the Journey to Langley Mill by the end of the week, but i know he does appreciate our forklift and the amount of work we now do not have to do as anyone in the fireplace trade knows cast iron fireplaces are very heavy items.
We are also expecting a delivery of Jura stone mantels we have on order and i know Daz is busy this week making Oak Lincolns and Bedfords again just in time to replenish stocks to ensure our quick delivery service is kept up and running.
Right off to Stuarts to drop off a late order ive added to his van for a customer tomorrow (sunday) so they now have a stove to go with there Limestone Package and still will only pay 1 delivery charge saving them both money and time.
Thats why we keep so much in stock it makes us better than the rest
Tags: Bedford, Cast Iron, Lincoln, Mantel, Oak, pembroke
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March 5th, 2010
Another real hectic day at Cast Fireplaces there just seems to be no let up i have even gone without dinner today until 3.30pm not that it would do me any harm as i could do with losing weight.
It all started this morning with me going to Scunthorpe and Nottingham to deliver a couple of fireplaces our customers required in a hurry but thats part of our excellent service.
Anyway i got back to the office and Rhian gave me a pile of Website orders our new site had created so i rang them all back to confirm choices and to arrange delivery after this was done i was on my way to Chesterfield with a Tiger Plus stove and then on to Nottingham to collect two Fireplaces which are being delivered on Sunday.
Back to the Factory just in time to meet a customer from Birmingham who had come to view a Pembroke Full Polished Solid Fuel Package and that was promptly loaded by Me and Stuart who had just returned from Bristol and Gloucs run via all over the South West.
We had a quick chat as we loaded his van and then mine for this weekends run to Sunny London i got back home at 3.30 pm and was straight in the fridge hunting for food good job my wife went shopping yesterday it was packed with goodies.
Anyway back in the office raising delivery notes and invoices and yellow telephone notes posted everywhere with people to ring.
Rhain said the phone had not stopped and looking at all the paperwork im not sure how it all got done.
Im now sat here in my office writing this blog at 19.30 having completed all my jobs and after this is done im switching off for the Night.
Out with the kids in the Morning to The park with the dog so im not sat in front of my pc but the phone is transferred if you do want me.
Tags: delivery, Hectic Day, Loading, Orders
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March 4th, 2010
Hello again todays little article is about a product we are getting asked for more and more but it only fits a few of our Fireplaces.
Brand new in the 2010 purple brochure photographed with the Pembroke Black Fireplace is an item called Deeper Back For Solid fuel use.
Basically this is an extra back supplied by us to replace the standard back that comes with the fireplaces it fits. It has been designed to increase the area for burning solid fuel fot the following three Fireplaces
Pembroke
Henley
Jubilee
These three very popular fireplaces have the option of the deeper back which to be fair does increase the size quite a bit and are ideal for customers wanting to use solid fuel fire regurlarly.
The original cast back is removed and this deeper one bolted on replacing it, as it is not tapered as much it forms a squarer opening and also it gains 65mm depth wise too so you have more room to throw on some more coal or a log or two.
It adds £105 to the price of a fireplace package as we have to replace the solid fuel kit with one with a bigger grate and ashpan too.
The damper flap is the same size with the same design on it so if you you wish to use your fireplace for solid fuel regurlarly consider having one of theose three fireplaces and then we can offer you the Deeper back to go with it.
Will add photo next week of the items when i remember to take my camera to the Factory
Tags: Deeper Back, Henley, Jubilee, pembroke, solid fuel
Posted in Cast Iron Fireplaces | No Comments »
March 3rd, 2010
We sell a small combination fireplace on our website called the Daisy which is available in Black or a Highlighted Finish.
It is made by Gallery but has been dropped from the 2010 brochure but is still available to us as and we will continue to stock it.
Today i have had a phonecall from a lady in Redcar enquiring whether we had the Daisy in stock as she had ordered one from B and Q in January but they telephoned her today telling her they are not in stock till May along with their small cast iron hearth.
Now May in my mind is a long way off seeing as we have only just started March that leadtime is wrong.
I find it really strange how a huge company like B and Q can run out of such items and what are there re ordering levels like to be without an item from January to May.
The Fireplace they supply is not the Daisy Fireplace and we are not short on stock of them so we have yet another order in the bag and the item on its way to Redcar next week again down to yet another comapny who can not supply goods in time for the customers needs.
Also today we have had someone order a fireplace from Shropshire and drive to Nottingham to collect it as the one he bought from ebay was missing parts and was not as described.
Beware of cheap items on any auction sites there always cheap for the wrong reasons
Tags: B and Q, Cast Iron, Combination, Daisy, Granite, Hearth
Posted in Cast Iron Fireplaces | No Comments »
March 2nd, 2010
Today i have been at our Factory in Langley Mill to meet two different sets of customers and they both ordered the same items Tiger Plus Stoves and to top it all off they both live in Newthorpe which is around 3 miles away from our Langley Mill Showroom.
Both customers found us on the internet searching for tiger plus stoves and found us on the front page of google.
Really thats a strange thing (not us being on 1st page) but to find one of the best suppliers of gallery fireplaces right on your doorstep found on the internet.
We do not advertise locally or in any papers we just concentrate on internet sales and base our business around this.
Thats one of the main reasons we are succesful we are not a shop that has a website we are an interent based company that has a showroom stocked with items for all our customers to come and view prior to purchase.
Dont get me wrong we welcome people to our showroom to view and ask advice about our fireplaces and stoves, but first and foremost we are an online based retailer and intend to concentrate on what we believe and many of our customers can testify too that we are the best comapny to deal with online.
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March 1st, 2010
Around a week ago or perhaps a little longer i told you about a customer who wanted a piece of Oak from an old Bureau incorparating into our Oak Stourhead Mantel which they are having as part of a solid fuel fireplace package with the Henley arched insert.
I must say what a great choice the solid oak stourhead made by us here at Castfireplaces really sells well and is fast becoming a contender to our Oak Lincoln.
Thinking of mantels i really should start informing you of our best selling items again now the new site is up and running.
Anyway this particualr piece of oak is now making its way to us by courier so we can actually set it into the mantel for our customer it will be easier for us to do then him to fix it when mantel is delivered i will take some photos of it being made and of course the finished article so you can see the work we are capable of.
Really nothing is to much trouble for us here.
Anyway enough fireplace talk we have had a new vehicle arrive today and collected it from Audi this morning and for once its not another new Van (god i wished audi made vans nothing comes close)
So My lovely wife and business partner Rhian has a new car to drive round and what a car it is take a look at the photo below i did get my way with the Forest colours but as you can see she has the reg plate.
Tags: bespoke, Mantel, Oak, Stourhead
Posted in Wooden Fireplaces | No Comments »
February 28th, 2010
A nice question to answer and yes we really do sell gallery fireplaces at the prices we sell them at no copies no rejects just genuine gallery fireplaces at the best prices.
I was asked the above question about the Gallery Pembroke Black Fireplace package for solid fuel use with the extra deep back today.
All these items are in stock to ready to take away or be delivered so when i told the customer it was £570 delivered to Evesham this Friday they were very happy.
The lady who ordered asked me again if there were the same ones that appear in the Purple Gallery brochure as she had been quoted £1100 from her local fireplace shop and it would take a minimum of two weeks for it to arrive to them.
Being wary of using the internet to place an order she found our contact details very easily and called us to ask the questions and find out how long delivery would take.
Also with us being open on a sunday when others are shut she found it great that she could speak to someone then and there.
Always one to offer the best customer service its all part of our normal job but we realise how frustrating other companies can be who do not return emails or calls but they thats there loss.
So another order in the bag loking forward to tomorrow now for our new vehicle
Posted in Cast Iron Fireplaces | No Comments »
February 27th, 2010
A customer today has rung me today with one of the strangest queries and situations i think i have ever answered.
He originally enquired about the Crown and Oak Lincoln fireplace from our wooden fireplace packages section which was simple enough as he was asking about dimensions and opening sizes etc.
He then told me he was having the inside of his house insulated with a foam which is 110mm thick with a plaster skim on it and would it affect the fitting of the fireplace.
He is using this fireplace for solid fuel use but when i explained that with the brick work to the chimney breast and also the insulation of 110mm im pretty sure there will be not enough depth on the cast back to vent it into his chimney.
We continued to sort out methods of fixing and i cam up with the idea of fitting the cast insert to the wall in the normal way using rope and sealeing it to the wall and then clad arond the sides of the cast with the insulation then we will custom make a mantel with a reverse rebate of 110mm (inside legs longer than outer legs) which will then fit flush with the plaster work and also hold in place the cast insert.
Im pretty sure this will work and he is coming to see me tomorrow afternoon at the factory to discuss that and another fireplace for another room.
So with us being able to custom make another bespoke mantel and a little bit of knowledge gained from numerous years in the Fireplace trade it looks like we could have a solution.
So if he does order ill keep you all posted on how it works out and take photos of what will be a very strange looking mantel untill its fiitted.
Really looking forward to Monday we have new company vehicle arriving i will tell you all more then.
Tags: bespoke, Crown, Lincoln, Oak, solid fuel
Posted in Wooden Fireplaces | No Comments »
