26 GAZETTE 2 Aug - 16 Aug 2012
GazetteBUSINESS BUSINESS Guideline for buying new kitchen appliances
ONE of Currys / PC World’s points of pride is the
level of help and service their customers receive, and here they provide a few guidelines when it comes to buying new kitchen appliances... Measure up - Know the dimensions of the space you are fitting your appliance into. There have been cases where people buy American-style fridge freezers and cannot fit them into their house. Water source close by – Always make sure if you are fitting a plumbed appliance that you have a water source near the appliance. Know the energy rating - for example an A+ energy rated appliance will deliver better cost savings than a standard energy rating. Know what the water consumption will be - Some washing machines will use less water than other brands. For example, some brands can use as much as 30% less water than other brands allowing for significant savings when water charges come into play. The average sink can use up to three times more water when washing dishes than a dishwasher. Energy savings – If it is a fridge freezer, low frost freezers can deliver more savings than a frost-free fridge freezer. Guarantee - Is it a reputable brand and does the brand come with a guarantee? Know your gas appliance - If it is a gas appliance, please note that there is a difference between bottle gas appliances and mains gas appliances. Some gas appliances may require a conversion kit for bottle gas. Always get a registered gas fitter to fit your gas appliance. Kitchen design - When you are designing your kitchen, always look to have an oven at an appropriate height. This means that you do not put unnecessary strain on your back when taking out that turkey on Christmas Day. We know how - Currys deliver nationwide, instal and recycle. We offer a professional nationwide delivery and installation service five days a week. We can remove the packaging for you and we will remove and recycle your old appliance. We even deliver on Saturdays.
Retail giant’s merger a huge success
RETAIL giants Currys and PC World have merged, and since making that decision, the store has become a one-stop-shop for household appliances and technology goods, with local outlets leading the way in their offerings to their customers. Declan Ronayne, managing director of Currys/ PC World, explained the rationale behind the decision when he spoke to Gazette Business last week. “The decision was taken to merge the brands after several years of trials in Britain. After four years of research, we realised that our customers were very keen on the idea and were asking, when they had known that the stores were essentially the same brand anyway, that we had not done this before. “The future is now to have both brands under one roof, and our customers are hugely supportive of the move,” said Ronayne. When the stores were re-branded as Currys/PC World, the Blanchardstown store was the first
to unveil the new brand in Ireland, and according to Blanchardstown store manager, Mark Howard, the merger has been a huge success. “It’s actually been a phenomenal success because the advantage we have been able to get is all products under one roof. It just means we can offer a much better proposition to the customers, but also a complete package as well. “We have an extensive range – washing machines, kettles, toasters all at the appliance department, but also a range of laptops and TVs that we are able to offer as well.”
Innovative
The store has introduced some innovative ways to keep customers up to date on what’s on the market. “We try to bring life to technology so that the customer can see first-hand how you can get the most out of products. It shows how technology can work seamlessly and it’s also affordable,” he told
Currys/PC World Blanchardstown store manager, Mark Howard
Gazette Business. The most important thing for the company is satisfying customers and making their visit an experience, rather than just a shopping trip. “We try to put the customer at the core of what we do. One of the things we believe in is not to leave the customer to fend for themselves. Our job is to make it simple and easy for customers to shop but also to be able to purchase the most desirable product that better suits them,” said Mark. The team at Currys/ PC World are all trained with the right product knowledge so they are in a position to offer the right advice to customers. “When you come into buy a product it’s
important that you have the right person to give you the product that you need and not just off-load a product they believe is right. “Then, there is the aftercare service. This --------------------------
The decision was taken to merge the brands after several years of trials in Britain --------------------------
is just as important as the initial service – from our delivery proposition right the way through to offering help and advice. Maybe you don’t know how to use something,
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your not getting the best out of it – that’s what we are there for and able to do for you as well.” In an industry where technology changes every day, Mark said it’s important that they keep up to date with what is coming on stream. “We have a comprehensive library for every product so colleagues have the facility to go and learn about the product, and they also get tested on their knowledge about that product as well. “A lot of people can be daunted by the prospect of buying technology and our job is to make it a very easy, enjoyable experience so you go out of the door understanding what you got is right for you,” Mark added.
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