As some of you may be aware our fireplace factory is on the move not very far though i have to add from Unit 3 to unit 2 on North Street in Langley Mill.
The reason for this move is because we are buying unit 2 as its larger than our current premises and has a further 900 sq ft to expand into and we intend to build larger showroom and have greater area for the storage of our fireplaces and Stoves.
Today i have been planning where everything is going to go in our new showroom and the main focal point of the working Firefox 12 Stove to help with the heating in the colder months, the design of the office and kitchen area above it has also been done. We will be adding a further 12 showroom displays featuring new products in a range of materials
We do need office space at our factory to keep all the files i have at home and also being internet based we need pc at work.
We intend to also have a customer rest area with tea coffee and soft drinks etc so customers can relax over a drink and discuss items they have seen in the showroom and browse through the brochures at their own pace.
Down in the factory we also intend to have a forklift loading area so we can keep all the heavy items like limestone surrounds and stoves all in one place where our forklift can operate safely and save us loads of work moving things around.
So all in all its exciting expansion times again and we have also ordered a large range of new limestone and timber mantel we intend to supply along with the odd new cast.
We never stop here at Castfireplaces and all this work is done with the customer in mind making it a better and quicker shopping and delivery service buying from us and dont forgot you are also welcome to collect your items and in the meantime our old showroom is still open to come and view.
Posts Tagged ‘showroom’
New Showroom planned for new Fireplace Factory
Saturday, July 3rd, 2010It Seems to be fireplace Collection Day
Saturday, March 20th, 2010What a strange day only 1 order on our Website from Customer in Solihull and it seems everyone local to us has decided to pay our Factory and Showroom a visit and what turns out to be a day of collections.
the first customer i knew about as he been emailing me all week regarding collecting a Barcelona Black solid fuel package from us he had seen on our Website.
I thought they were from West Bridgford Nottingham but as it turns out they had come from Sheffield im not now sure why West Bridgford came to mind.
A quick look round our showrrom just to confirm he likes the fireplace and then its promptly loaded into the back of a van he has borrowed and the first of what turns out to be three customers collecting from us today is on his way back home.
As Stuart was late back Friday from Delivery run we are going to load his van today mines already done and full of fuel for tomorrow morning.
So in between wrapping all items up another customer rings me from Ilkeston asking if they can collect Firefox 12 Stove i say straight away have you got a van and a couple of strong mates to which he replies yes.
Im not joking 15 minutes later Man Mountain is stood in front of me paying me in Cash for a Firefox 12 im 6 foot 1 but he towers above me im sure he could lift it on his own.
But that would ruin the fun of me driving the forklift so i persuade him gently ill load it into his van he can then lift it out his end. Another Happy customer and im back to loading van whilst waiting for 1pm and 2 pm apointments.
Both are on time and the first at 1pm takes away Solid oak stourhead mantel and toulouse tiled insert we dont have the tiles they wanted so they take there second choice Tulip Ivory Burgundy.
The last customer of the day at 2pm orders a Black Pemborke and Black Celtic Fireplace package and even though we have them in stock to go he lets me deliver them as they have only come in a car.
Sometimes its easier for us to deliver as its all wrapped and packed carefully and we are experts at delivering Fireplaces and Stoves.
They are in Sheffield so i tell them i will deliver it next Week so they can continue with the renovation of there Victorian Home.
So another busy day at the Factory so much for having Saturday off well i hope im not in too much trouble for it.
Customer contacts us to supply Bolton Fireplace back after terrible service
Wednesday, November 18th, 2009So the ugly head of the fireplace company bandit raises its head again today as we were contacted this morning by a man in Manchester who had ordered a Bolton Fireplace from another company online somebody we are aware of and have heard numerous complaints from customers and have read bad feedback on various review sites about them.
They failed to deliver the cast iron back and this is what was emailed to me
“I’ve Bought A Gallery Bolton Cast Iron Fire From Another Retailer Who Has Failed To Deliver The Optional Back Which We Need In Order To Get It Fitted Before Christmas. Whilst I’m Fighting With The Other Retailer (who Won’t Return Calls) Is There Any Way I Might Be Able To Buy This Seperately From Yourselves Whilst I Try And Get A Refund From Them? If So, When Would You Be Able To Deliver To An Address In Manchester And For How Much?”
I replied by email straight away as i was sat at my pc working through delivery notes for Tomorrows trip to Norfolk and he repied saying
“Thanks for your quick response – not something I’ve been used to in
this debacle!
I’ll seriously have to consider doing this if I don’t get any response
from them by the end of this week as I have a whole front room to
decorate around the fire before Christmas so need it fitted sharpish.
Its a shame as the service we got at their showroom was excellent but
since then it’s all been downhill!”
Now this we hear all to often it is ok having a showroom and ideal for serving customers face to face but online retailing is a specialist business and not every one is good at cutomer service and responding to peoples needs and requirements and having the infrastructure to deal with any problems that arise.
Yes we do have a showroom but we are mainly online retail based and whilst we do have a good flow of people visiting our showroom most are local to us and come because they have found us online and wish to simply view products before purchase.
So please when choosing your new fireplace be carefull who you buy it from and there all some terrible companies online who just take your money and then deliver shoddy goods and have even worse customer service.
They know who they are and if you ask me i will tell you who they are but i do not think it is fair to name and shame them in our article section so if you do want to know just contact me
Fireplace Factory is well and truly stocked for Heating Season
Wednesday, October 14th, 2009We have had one of the biggest deliveries today from our supplier our factory is now bursting at the seams with Limestone Surrounds stoves and cast iron fireplaces.
Along with the fact that we have had daily had arrivals of timber surrounds we are now well and truly stocked up for the Heating Season and are ready to supply all our customers at an even quicker rate at this very busy time of year.
To give you an idea we hold over 40 Stoves in stock around 60 pine and oak surrounds and 100s of cast iron fireplaces all ready to take way.
We keep large stocks of granite and tiled hearths too along with a full range of gas and electric inserts to suit all our fireplaces.
Next week if I remember I will take a photo of our factory so you can see how much stuff we keep in stock customers who visit our factory and showroom are amazed at what we have in stock and say they have never been anywhere like it.
So if you wish to make an appointment to come and view our fantastic range of fireplaces and stoves please ring us to arrange.
We often have viewing out of shop hours so just contact us and come and see probably the largest stock holding fireplace company on the internet
New Fireplace Showroom is Complete at Last
Wednesday, July 29th, 2009Hooray the shout was today at around 4.30 pm when the fitters had just put in the last display in our new showroom.
It seems to have taken weeks and the only thing left to do is carry one more Stoves into place and then all displays are ready for people to visit It is the Firefox 12 Stove but im out delivering to Gloucester tommorow so luckily it wont be me.
We already have appointments booked for Sunday which we are going to use as our Opening Day as all the point of sales leaflets and promotion banners are still to arrive from the printers,
everything seems to take so long they have been ordered for 10 days now.
Im sure all this hard work will pay great dividends as we do have some exiting new packages we have put together which we will be featuring in our article section once there all ready and we have stock made to despatch so keep your eyes out for all these items.
Also the upgraded website will be ready in around 4 weeks with our even easier to use sections so this will also make a huge difference to our ordering system so in between upgardes there will be new items added now i have a little more time in the Office agian but everything will be in place at the start of the Heating Season.
Just one more thing we will again start to offer some JIG Fireplaces as a main part of our range on our webiste and in our showroom as we have had the Rep come to see us today and we have got some good deals to offer our customers
Busy day unloading fireplaces at our factory
Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009Well what a morning I have had we have just finished unloading all the new fireplaces for the showroom there now all over our normally well organised factory where we keep all the fireplaces in stock so mayhem for loading all the vans till after the weekend. Forklifts are they not the best invention ever for lifting heavy items.
The Carpet fitter is working away so I thought I will grab a cup of tea and have ten minutes then I thought well why not do some work as well and write this article.
Our other van is due at 2.00pm to start loading our North run and I’ve gone and buried half of it so that will take a little longer than normal still at least some stock will disappear onto the van so I wont have to move it again.
So here I am surrounded by Cast iron fireplaces writing this blog on my laptop listening to carpet fitters singing can my day get any better.
I am really looking forward to getting these fireplaces installed so I can some time back in the office listing all the new items we have planned for our website I have a file with over 80 new products ready to be listed on our site not including all the companion sets etc that we intend to feature so please keep checking back to see if we have any items that could be of interest to you.
Don’t forget we only sell fireplaces and fireplace related products so you can always rely on a service that is totally dedicated to these products.
Right I am off to finish wrapping up all these gas inserts and bar sets for Thursdays delivery to the North of England then maybe I can get some lunch (even the joiners Doner Kebab pot noodle he has left looks tasty).
Fireplaces arrive for new showroom and its ready for new displays
Tuesday, July 21st, 2009The First of our fireplaces has arrived to day for our new fireplace showroom and as I started to write this article the phone rang and it was the decorator to say its all done and we can start fitting them in the morning after the Carpet fitter has finished laying the new floor which is great news and we hope to be finished before the end of the Month which I had set in my mind as a deadline and was hoping to push for.
We have a delivery coming tomorrow as normal for a Wednesday and on this delivery is a lot of Fireplaces we don’t keep in stock ready for our brand new displays such as the Modern Suites and the Jura Stone products. I am really excited about getting this little project finished as then our customers have something to look at again all set up instead of items in crates and boxes.
We have still been having customers our large stock to view and take items away and I thank those who have visited for their patience in me hastily arranging items for them to view I know its not been ideal but almost everyone who has visited has ordered or taken something away to think about so even through this turmoil we still have been doing a good job.
Another bit of good news is today I have visited our website designers and approved the new tweaks we are doing to the site to make it easier for you to choose items along with a few new fireplace categories and products which I have yet to announce so keep checking back to see the changes over the next few weeks.
On returning to the office I have dealt with a nice little pile of orders Rhian has been taking all day and have arranged deliveries for one of our vans for Thursday to the Sunny North of England after today’s delivery around Lancaster, Bolton and Manchester. We are heading to Newcastle and Morpeth and the right hand side of the Country on Thursday so there is no rest for Stuart at the moment as he drives our sign written van advertising our fireplaces up and down the motorways so if you see him give him a pip I am sure he will wave he really is one of the most friendly people I’ve ever met always has a smile on his face and is so laid back nothing bothers him even an hours delay on the motorway (see customers comments about our friendly delivery man).
Right I’m off now to do some invoices left over from earlier today
Fireplace Delivery and Show Room Update
Monday, July 13th, 2009Our new fireplace showroom has really started to take shape now all the joinery framework and boarding has been completed and it now has lights and sockets and the new stairs have been installed. The decorator is coming Thursday and expects to be done for Monday followed by carpet fitter Tuesday or Wednesday which then means we can start to install all the Featured Fireplaces we have decided on. The solid fuel option we really wanted has been abolished due to “fire risk†problems it really is just too much trouble to convince the people in charge that it’s a good idea.
Anyway enough of the moaning all the sales brochures, stone sample displays and posters have been ordered and the large display photos we have in our workshop area are being moved to the Showroom area to create an impressive focal point.
This little project seems to have consumed so much of my working days we have come to a slight stall in listing all our new Fireplace products we have photographed and new items we haven’t even listed so please bear with me on this I will be updating our Website very shortly with all the new products so keep your eye out for all these new items.
After a mad week delivering all over the country from Saltash in Cornwall to Kilmarnock in Scotland we have now cleared the backlog of orders that had built up whilst we were away on holiday so you can rest assured when you order from Cast Fireplaces it arrives in quick time and is delivered on time every time.
Thanks again to all the customers some of whom got up early so we could complete all our deliveries over the past 12 Days it seems we have done nothing since returning from holidays except load our two vans with fireplaces that have been going in all different directions at some really early hours to deliver these products to there new homes.
Fireplaces will be delivered on time after Holiday
Wednesday, July 1st, 2009Wow what a day cant believe it the weather is far too hot for selling fireplaces and the mad rush we have returned to here is making me even hotter as there has been nobody in our office for two weeks so today we have done nothing but sort out orders and arrange delivery for all the fireplace and stove orders we have taken over the last two weeks.
I have also visited the Factory unit today to meet two different customers who were both local to us and have supplied them both with Fireplace Sets one that I delivered on the way back to the office how is that for service delivery within 30 minutes of ordering that’s all thanks to our large stock we have. One ordered a made to measure solid Oak mantel and even were not good enough to do that while they wait but its only 7 days manufacture time.
I am also glad to say that the workshop now has the new fireplace showroom standing in it all boarded out with the electrician ready to start tomorrow it will be ready on time for opening at the need of this month (cant wait)
Sorry if you have not been able to get hold of us over this time but we all need a holiday and will work solidly now right through until the Christmas mad rush is over, saying that now seems strange as we are in the middle of a heat wave. We do try to have time off at what should be the quietest time of the year but looking at the mound of orders in front of me I think we may have timed it slightly wrong however with our great delivery drivers and service it will all be sent out over the next week or too as we always try and deliver within 10 days, so please bear with us we are working at full speed to delivery all these products on time.
I’m off now to turn the fans up to stop me wilting as I am computer bound all afternoon processing orders so if you ring and there is no answer I may have passed out Hold that thought Rhian has just returned with Watermelon
Told You she runs things here
Return from Holiday to Fireplace Normality
Tuesday, June 30th, 2009As you are reading this article we will be flying back home from our summer holidays in Benalmadena Spain back to hopefully a sun drenched UK. As some of you will know there has been no one at our office or factory this week except for our joiner bevearing away on our new fireplace showroom, which by all accounts will not be far from finished. This is the time of year now when we start to gear up for the “Heating Season†all the goods we will be expecting to sell will have been order and will be starting to arrive such as New Surrounds and a range of Gas fires we are going to try out.
We always come back to a pile of work on our return but we will soon be back up to running speed in no time at all. Sorry for being closed for the last two weeks but we are a small family run business and need Holidays and most of all would not want a manager or sales person in running things as its our reputation on the line and we prefer to offer our own personal service to all our customers. We believe in old-fashioned customer service values and our whole company is built on this basis (all to often lost on website transactions).
Thanks for the numerous emails of what you would like to see in our new showroom we have listened and will be featuring most of the suggestions except for the sauna that our little timber man suggested (nice idea though).
Hopefully when we are back at work tomorrow the 1st Of July we will start the fitting of all our display fireplaces and by the end of the month we will have a fully opened showroom ready for you all to come and view until then keep checking our Fireplace website for all our offers