Majjie's Blog

I write about Magnet kitchens with some trepidation. About this time last year, I wrote something about B&Q's Cooke & Lewis kitchen range ... and the blog still gets comments ... most of them from people complaining about the service they've received from B&Q. Will writing about Magnet attract similar attention, I wonder?

This is Magnet's Fiori kitchen - a new addition for 2010  with some up-to-the-minute pattern included, matched by a bright fuschia glass splashback. I love the splashback ... not so sure about the flowers. I think I might have just had them on the wall units.

More interestingly perhaps, Magnet also have a "MagnetMe" service whereby you can add - not just one of their designs to your kitchen doors (they have several to choose from) - but also one of your own instead. You could, for instance, upload a picture of your little darlings:

 Not entirely convinced about that ... but perhaps that's just because I don't have any little darlings!  I can see the potential to be very creative with patterns and pictures, though.

I was also attracted - when I went to check out the web site - by the Creme Lineaire range ... which has internal curved doors available (they're in that far corner):

Convex curved doors are available from a wide range of standard kitchen suppliers now ... but concave ones are a lot rarer. 

I have done a few designs for Magnet kitchens - but they've been for people using Magnet Trade (through their builder) which has different kitchen ranges to the retail stores. The retail showrooms have made a conscious effort to move upmarket in recent years ... they want to compete with the high street kitchen specialists.

So what brought Magnet to my attention? Last year it was an article in the Guardian about B&Q's rather dodgy 50% Sale that made me go and look at their web site. This time, it was an e-mail sent to me by Magnet's PR company ...  suggesting I look at Magnet's latest Sale ... because it's the first time they've ever done one like it.

My first thought was "don't be ridiculous" Magnet always has a sale on ... the same as all the other multiples. I'm singularly unimpressed with the way they all have vastly inflated list prices. In the e-mail it talks about the normal price for a 600mm Fiori base unit being £818. Either they never intend to sell the kitchens at that price because they always have a sale on (offering them for sale, at the higher price, for the legal minimum period is rather different) ... or ... that's a ridiculously high price for what it is. You could get a hand made, hand painted, solid timber carcassed, base unit for less than that.

If you forget the ridiculous list prices, though ... there is something that's new. Magnet is, for the first time, offering a further reduction of 20% on it's 50% off Sale prices, or a choice of alternative Special Offers, such as appliance packs or reductions on granite prices. I suspect that's because their sales in January weren't as good as they had hoped (in common with other retailers) and they're trying to give a boost to their February figures. The new improved Sale lasts until the 27th February ... and it might be worth a look ... if you like any of their new styles and features.

And finally, there is one thing about Magnet that impresses me greatly ... that's their kitchen marketing. I get several e-mails a week from US PR companies, asking me to look at this or that product ... none of which are available in the UK, so it's a waste of their - and my - time. There are virtually no UK kitchen suppliers or suppliers of kitchen-related products doing the same in this country.  In fact, I've e-mailed a couple of suppliers and been ignored. Magnet not only contacted me (and presumably other bloggers) via their PR company, but they also have a blog of their own called The Kitchenista (I've mentioned it before). They get the thumbs down from me, of course, for not mentioning me as one of their favourite interior design blogs, recently ... but for their 21st century marketing techniques Magnet definitely gets a thumbs up.