Magnet Kitchens
Encyclopedia
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.
'
, 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.
. This concept of the company having their own outlets quickly develops in other towns in the UK.
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. In 1988 Magnet sold the Southern-Evans timber business in preparation for a £629m management buy out which took place the following year. 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. The buyout failed quite quickly and the banks took control of the business.
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 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 meant that the company did not see any significant growth.
, a Swedish based kitchen company for £134m. Significant investments were made in the company with a multi million pound showroom refurbishment programme 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.
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, sink
s & 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 cowboy
s in the home improvement sector. Trustmark provides customers with a two-year guarantee on installation and payment protection.
Magnet Trade sells only to registered trade customers through its network of 187 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 (Door
s, Window
s, Timber
, 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.
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.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
supplying products under the Magnet and Magnet Trade brands. The company has over 2,000 employees and its headquarters are in Darlington
Darlington
Darlington is a market town in the Borough of Darlington, part of the ceremonial county of County Durham, England. It lies on the small River Skerne, a tributary of the River Tees, not far from the main river. It is the main population centre in the borough, with a population of 97,838 as of 2001...
, County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
. Magnet was listed on the London Stock Exchange
London Stock Exchange
The London Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located in the City of London within the United Kingdom. , the Exchange had a market capitalisation of US$3.7495 trillion, making it the fourth-largest stock exchange in the world by this measurement...
and was once a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index
FTSE 100 Index
The FTSE 100 Index, also called FTSE 100, FTSE, or, informally, the footsie , is a share index of the 100 most highly capitalised UK companies listed on the London Stock Exchange....
but is now part of Nobia UK, a division of the Nobia
Nobia
Nobia AB is a Swedish corporation owning many European kitchen related firms. It syles itself as The Leading Kitchen Company in Europe....
group which is listed on the Swedish Stock Exchange.
Stockholm Stock Exchange
The Stockholm Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located in Stockholm, Sweden. Founded in 1863 it is the primary securities exchange of the Nordic Countries....
'
Formation and Early Years
Magnet was established in BingleyBingley
Bingley is a market town in the metropolitan borough of the City of Bradford, in West Yorkshire, England. It is situated on the River Aire and the Leeds and Liverpool Canal...
, West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
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
Keighley
Keighley is a town and civil parish within the metropolitan borough of the City of Bradford in West Yorkshire, England. It is situated northwest of Bradford and is at the confluence of the River Aire and the River Worth...
, Grays
Grays
Grays is the largest town in the borough and unitary authority of Thurrock in Essex and one of the Thurrock's traditional parishes...
and Knaresborough
Knaresborough
Knaresborough is an old and historic market town, spa town and civil parish in the Borough of Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England, located on the River Nidd, four miles east of the centre of Harrogate.-History:...
to satisfy demand for the growing business.
1960s
In 1960 the company opened its first branch in BingleyBingley
Bingley is a market town in the metropolitan borough of the City of Bradford, in West Yorkshire, England. It is situated on the River Aire and the Leeds and Liverpool Canal...
. 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
FTSE 100 Index
The FTSE 100 Index, also called FTSE 100, FTSE, or, informally, the footsie , is a share index of the 100 most highly capitalised UK companies listed on the London Stock Exchange....
share index. The company continued to expand during the 1980s with new manufacturing sites in Rotherham
Rotherham
Rotherham is a town in South Yorkshire, England. It lies on the River Don, at its confluence with the River Rother, between Sheffield and Doncaster. Rotherham, at from Sheffield City Centre, is surrounded by several smaller settlements, which together form the wider Metropolitan Borough of...
, Thornton, Penrith
Penrith, Cumbria
Penrith was an urban district between 1894 and 1974, when it was merged into Eden District.The authority's area was coterminous with the civil parish of Penrith although when the council was abolished Penrith became an unparished area....
, Burnley
Burnley
Burnley is a market town in the Burnley borough of Lancashire, England, with a population of around 73,500. It lies north of Manchester and east of Preston, at the confluence of the River Calder and River Brun....
and Deeside
Deeside
For Strathdee in Scotland see River Dee, AberdeenshireDeeside is the name given to the predominantly industrial conurbation of towns and villages that lie on, or near the River Dee in Chester. These include, Connah's Quay, Mancot, Pentre, Shotton, Queensferry, Sealand, Broughton, Hawarden,...
opened together with the acquisition of the Thomas Easthams kitchen business. Seeing the growth of the burgeoning DIY
Do it yourself
Do it yourself is a term used to describe building, modifying, or repairing of something without the aid of experts or professionals...
sector, the company decided to move into the retail kitchen market and opened its first retail kitchen showrooms in 1985. In 1988 Magnet sold the Southern-Evans timber business in preparation for a £629m management buy out which took place the following year. 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. The buyout failed quite quickly and the banks took control of the business.
1990s
Thornton
The given name Thornton originates from the Old English, means "settlement walled by strong thorn hedges" or "thorny estate dweller". May refer to:-United Kingdom:*Thornton, Angus*Thornton, Buckinghamshire*Thornton, East Riding of Yorkshire...
, Burnley
Burnley
Burnley is a market town in the Burnley borough of Lancashire, England, with a population of around 73,500. It lies north of Manchester and east of Preston, at the confluence of the River Calder and River Brun....
, Deeside
Deeside
For Strathdee in Scotland see River Dee, AberdeenshireDeeside is the name given to the predominantly industrial conurbation of towns and villages that lie on, or near the River Dee in Chester. These include, Connah's Quay, Mancot, Pentre, Shotton, Queensferry, Sealand, Broughton, Hawarden,...
, Gillingham
Gillingham, Kent
Gillingham is a town in the unitary authority of Medway in South East England. It is part of the ceremonial county of Kent. The town includes the settlements of Brompton, Hempstead, Rainham, Rainham Mark and Twydall....
and Lincoln
Lincoln, Lincolnshire
Lincoln is a cathedral city and county town of Lincolnshire, England.The non-metropolitan district of Lincoln has a population of 85,595; the 2001 census gave the entire area of Lincoln a population of 120,779....
were closed with work transferred to Darlington and Keighley. In 1994 Berisford
Enodis
Enodis plc is a British company headquartered in Central London which manufactures foodmaking equipment. A former FTSE 250 Index constituent, since October 2008 the company has been a wholly owned subsidiary of the American machinery manufacturer The Manitowoc Company...
acquired the company 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 meant that the company did not see any significant growth.
2000s
In 2001, Magnet was acquired by NobiaNobia
Nobia AB is a Swedish corporation owning many European kitchen related firms. It syles itself as The Leading Kitchen Company in Europe....
, a Swedish based kitchen company for £134m. Significant investments were made in the company with a multi million pound showroom refurbishment programme 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
Build to order
Build to order and sometimes referred to as make to order , is a production approach where once a confirmed order for products is received, products are built...
facility.
Magnet
Showroom
The word showroom has two distinct meanings including:-Marketing location:A showroom is a large space used to display products for sale, such as automobiles, furniture, appliances, carpet or apparel. The World's most famous locations for a showroom are the Champs Elysees in Paris or the 5th Avenue...
The company primarily targets the middle market and offers a wide variety of kitchen designs together with a comprehensive range of worktops, sink
Sink
A sink is a bowl-shaped plumbing fixture used for washing hands, for dishwashing or other purposes. Sinks generally have taps that supply hot and cold water and may include a spray feature to be used for faster rinsing...
s & taps
Tap (valve)
A tap is a valve controlling release of liquids or gas. In the British Isles and most of the Commonwealth, the word is used for any everyday type of valve, particularly the fittings that control water supply to bathtubs and sinks. In the U.S., the term "tap" is more often used for beer taps,...
, electrical appliances
Major appliance
A major appliance, or domestic appliance, is usually defined as a large machine which accomplishes some routine housekeeping task, which includes purposes such as cooking, or food preservation, whether in a household, institutional, commercial or industrial setting...
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 cowboy
Cowboy
A cowboy is an animal herder who tends cattle on ranches in North America, traditionally on horseback, and often performs a multitude of other ranch-related tasks. The historic American cowboy of the late 19th century arose from the vaquero traditions of northern Mexico and became a figure of...
s in the home improvement sector. Trustmark provides customers with a two-year guarantee on installation and payment protection.
Magnet Trade
Tradesman
This article is about the skilled manual worker meaning of the term; for other uses see Tradesperson .A tradesman is a skilled manual worker in a particular trade or craft. Economically and socially, a tradesman's status is considered between a laborer and a professional, with a high degree of both...
such as joiners
Carpentry
A carpenter is a skilled craftsperson who works with timber to construct, install and maintain buildings, furniture, and other objects. The work, known as carpentry, may involve manual labor and work outdoors....
, builders
General contractor
A general contractor is responsible for the day-to-day oversight of a construction site, management of vendors and trades, and communication of information to involved parties throughout the course of a building project.-Description:...
and kitchen fitters. Magnet Trade also supplies organizations in the RSL sector such as Local Authorities and Housing Associations
Housing association
Housing associations in the United Kingdom are independent not-for-profit bodies that provide low-cost "social housing" for people in housing need. Any trading surplus is used to maintain existing homes and to help finance new ones...
. Alongside a comprehensive kitchen offering (cabinets, appliances, worktops, sinks & taps), the company supplies a wide variety of joinery (Door
Door
A door is a movable structure used to open and close off an entrance, typically consisting of a panel that swings on hinges or that slides or rotates inside of a space....
s, Window
Window
A window is a transparent or translucent opening in a wall or door that allows the passage of light and, if not closed or sealed, air and sound. Windows are usually glazed or covered in some other transparent or translucent material like float glass. Windows are held in place by frames, which...
s, Timber
Timber
Timber may refer to:* Timber, a term common in the United Kingdom and Australia for wood materials * Timber, Oregon, an unincorporated community in the U.S...
, Flooring
Wood flooring
Wood flooring is any product manufactured from timber that is designed for use as flooring, either structural or aesthetic. Bamboo flooring is often considered a wood floor, although it is made from a grass rather than a timber....
, Hardware
Hardware
Hardware is a general term for equipment such as keys, locks, hinges, latches, handles, wire, chains, plumbing supplies, tools, utensils, cutlery and machine parts. Household hardware is typically sold in hardware stores....
). Products are supplied from stock
Inventory
Inventory means a list compiled for some formal purpose, such as the details of an estate going to probate, or the contents of a house let furnished. This remains the prime meaning in British English...
held on site in the branch warehouse
Warehouse
A warehouse is a commercial building for storage of goods. Warehouses are used by manufacturers, importers, exporters, wholesalers, transport businesses, customs, etc. They are usually large plain buildings in industrial areas of cities and towns. They usually have loading docks to load and unload...
. Free kitchen planning, made to measure
Made to measure
Made to measure typically refers to clothing that is sewn from a standard-sized base pattern. A tailored suit is a common example of a made-to-measure garment...
timber window ordering and local delivery
Delivery (commerce)
Delivery is the process of transporting goods. Most goods are delivered through a transportation network. Cargo are primarily delivered via roads and railroads on land, shipping lanes on the sea and airline networks in the air...
services are also offered.
Magnet Trade has a separate in-store environment and brand identity
Brand
The American Marketing Association defines a brand as a "Name, term, design, symbol, or any other feature that identifies one seller's good or service as distinct from those of other sellers."...
, in order to clearly differentiate it from the retail business.
Mixed Sites