Credit Crunch is good news for online retailer Right Price Furniture
Released
on: August 11, 2009, 2:54 pm
Author:
Glyn Bryan
Industry: Retail
Furniture buying is recognised as a good barometer of economic
activity but as more people search for bargains online it has been good
news for a South Wales-based internet retailer, Right Price Furniture.
The company reports that turnover is actually up by 62% compared to 2
years ago and it now employs more staff to cope with the demand.
Right Price Furniture was established by furniture entrepreneur Darren James who
recognised the opportunities to sell furniture online after many years experience of
operating traditional furniture showrooms. “Critics said no-one would buy furniture
online, but this has been proved not to be the case,” says Mr James. He set out to‘extend’ his Bridgend showroom by adding a virtual shop display that could be seen
across the whole of the UK. The process was not without difficulty, and he has
become an expert on solving both the tangible problems, such as reliable nationwide
furniture delivery, and the less tangible but equally formidable challenges of
achieving a high prominence on the internet.
Right Price Furniture was one of the first UK companies to break the mould of
traditional furniture retailing by going online and using the cost savings to offer
furniture at prices up to 60% lower than on the high street. Not surprisingly, the
move was not popular with other retailers but since the Credit Crunch more of them
are turning to the internet in search of sales.
Mr James believes Right Price Furniture’s success is due to getting the balance
right between traditional high street retail and internet-only retail – which has
mushroomed since the Credit Crunch. Right Price Furniture retains a showroom at its
Bridgend headquarters and also has its own furniture workshops to provide wax and
lacquer finishes to customers’ specifications and undertake minor repairs.
“High Street retailers that go online are still trying to support high overhead
costs. Internet only retailers may – or may not – be reliable and they have no way
of dealing with the inevitable percentage of returns occurring with this type of
operation,” explains Mr James. “Customers are reassured by the fact that they can
visit us in person, while our workshops mean we are able to provide a professional
finishing and repairs service. Customers feel confident they can return any
purchases they are not entirely satisfied with.”
Right Price Furniture sells traditional and contemporary styles of wooden furniture through its website, in oak, ash, pine, dark and painted finishes. It is also the
UK’s largest retailer of solid oak furniture from West Country-based Devonshire Pine
Ltd, one of Britain’s last remaining commercial-scale furniture makers. “Selling on
the internet will continue expanding in the future,” predicts Mr James. “And we
have proved it is possible, even with products such as furniture, to be successful.
There will always be some who try to use it as a quick way to make money, but we aim
to be here for the long term and believe competitive prices and good service are the
keys to success.”
For more information please contact Glyn Bryan.
Contact Details: Glyn Bryan
Right Price Furniture
Harts Building
Main Avenue
Brackla Trading Estate
Bridgend CF31 2AG
01656 768358
sales@rightpricefurniture.co.uk
http://www.rightpricefurniture.co.uk
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