Schock tactics

British range cooker and kitchen sink manufacturer Rangemaster is growing its business and plans to offer “the largest kitchen sinks portfolio in the UK”. We talk to sales director James Cunningham about how the company plans to achieve this bold ambition with a new and exclusive partnership.

“Most people know us for being a British range cooker manufacturer, however, we have more than 85 years’ experience and expertise in manufacturing sinks too,” explains James Cunningham, sales director at Rangemaster. The company’s sinks division is located in Long Eaton, Nottinghamshire, and specialises in the manufacture of stainless steel kitchen sinks. The factory continues to invest in its machinery, including the latest addition of a £1.2m sink press, which has improved the production line’s efficiency and increased the factory capacity by 50%. So, how does the company plan to bolster its offering and provide the trade with the largest kitchen sinks portfolio?It has partnered with Schock, claimed to be the inventor of the granite sink, as part of an exclusive distribution deal.

Exclusive partnership “Schock by Rangemaster marks the start of an exciting time in the UK kitchen sinks market,” says Cunningham. “As part of the partnership, the Schock range is now available exclusively through Rangemaster, with the products sitting alongside our growing portfolio of stainless steel, granite composite and fireclay ceramic sinks, so that we can offer the largest sinks collection in the UK. Our aim is to make Rangemaster the ultimate one-stop-shop for sinks and taps.” The Schock by Rangemaster collection alone offers more than 250 variants across 14 designs.

But why choose Schock? “We are committed to delivering outstanding service to our customers. By teaming up with Schock, two iconic brands have joined forces to provide firstclass quality, innovation, and the largest choice of designs and colours. We have a watertight agreement in place and are talking to a number of existing and new customers that are interested in the collection. The feedback so far has already been very positive, but 2021 will be the real start of the journey,” explains Cunningham.

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1. SALES DIRECTOR

James Cunningham says the company is dedicated to offering the largest choice of sink designs and colours in the UK

2. SCHOCK BY RANGEMASTER

The Prepstation is a 1.5 bowl sink made from Cristadur in a Magma finish. It has a large central drainer and complementary accessories range. Read more at www.rdr.link/KW041

Granite specialist Nestled in the Bavarian Forest in Germany, Schock is a global market leader that holds over 90 patents. It reports, more than over 60% of granite kitchen sinks sold worldwide are manufactured using Schock’s patented technology. Cunningham continues: “Schock leads the way in granite sink design, production and technology. It has dedicated R&D teams continually working one step ahead to enhance its material, design styles and manufacturing processes.” Schock sinks are made from quartz sand, which is milled locally and supplied exclusively to the company; this is then used to create a material with a smooth surface and antibacterial properties.

“Rangemaster is highly experienced in sinks and has created a very well-known brand with UK consumers,” says Christopher Taylor, region manager at Schock. “We have worked together for several years and are pleased to take our partnership to the next level. I am confident that Rangemaster’s highly professional sales structure will be the perfect platform for our premium product range and will deliver added value to our trade and retail customers.”

Sink progress The Rangemaster portfolio now comprises stainless steel, granite composite and fire-clay ceramic models. “We are extremely pleased with our progress in the sinks market, especially given that consumer confidence has not been as strong as previous years due to Brexit and COVID-19,” adds Cunningham. While stainless steel accounts for 74% of sink sales in the UK, there is “definite room for growth” in the granite composite market too he says. Enter Schock by Rangemaster. Sinks are playing an increasingly important role in the home, both functionally and aesthetically, while cleanliness is on most people’s minds. “Though most of us spend much less time at the sink nowadays, thanks to the invention of the 3 dishwasher, it is still an essential part of kitchen design; it brings a scheme together while simultaneously standing proud as a feature in its own right,” explains Cunningham. 3. GREENWICH SINK “Typically, composite has just a 17% share of the The Schock by Rangemaster collection alone offers UK sinks market – however, we see an more than 250 variants available across 14 designs, opportunity to develop this while bolstering our including Greenwich. The single bowl sink is shown offering.” in Rouge but you can see the gallery of options at “We are experts in manufacturing stainless www.rdr.link/KW042 steel sinks for the UK market, and Schock is the leader in granite sink manufacturing: it’s the 4. STAINLESS STEEL SPECIALIST perfect partnership – the two complement each Rangemaster has invested in £1.2m sink press, other like sinks and taps,” says Cunningham. He which has increased the factory capacity by 50%. It concludes: “We are dedicated to offering the manufactures sinks such as Arlington, a 1.5 single largest choice of designs and colours available bowl model and you can view the technical in the UK via retail and distribution channels, specifications at www.rdr.link/KW043 initially. We are talking to new and existing distributors, which will allow retailers to buy 5. FIRECLAY CERAMIC SINKS through them, while our larger customers, who Rangemaster offers a range of ceramic sinks from have accounts and have space for stock, can classic Belfast designs through to inset and buy direct from us. It’s an exciting time and undermount models. It includes the farmhouse we’re looking forward to offering further double bowl Belfast model and you can download products through our exclusive partnership and the data sheet at www.rdr.link/KW044 giving the UK sinks market a real ‘Schock’.”

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