|
CAP MEMBER BACK IN THE SPOTLIGHT
|
Featuring Kathy Kingdon from DK Furnishing
NAME: Kathy Kingdon
BUSINESS NAME: DK Furnishing WEBSITE: www.dkfurnishing.co.uk CONTACT: info@dkfurnishing.co.uk, 01594 843261, 07775039497 1 - HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN YOUR CURRENT BUSINESS? It’s just coming up to my twelve year anniversary 2 - WHAT WAS GREAT ABOUT LAST YEAR FOR YOUR BUSINESS? I think what was great, was that despite the fact that High Streets all over the country have been finding it really tough over the last year, I’m still getting customers who want to shop locally. 3 - WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR THE COMING YEAR? My goals for the coming year are to keep building the business, increasing the number of people that know about the shop, and to keep on providing good customer service. 4 - WHAT IS THE BEST THING YOU HAVE DONE IN YOUR BUSINESS THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO? I think the best thing that I’ve done is to look after my customers and really care about making sure that their needs are catered for – and that includes listening when somebody wants to talk about the fact that they need new furniture because their relationship has broken up, or their spouse has cancer, or their parent can no longer manage the stairs. Selling is only part of my job – the biggest part is listening. 5 - WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ATTRIBUTE FOR A BUSINESS TO HAVE? To be genuinely interested in their customers and listen to what they need! 6 - WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST ACHIEVMENT TO DATE? I think my biggest achievement is to still be running a shop through these difficult times. Outside of work, it’s to have got a First Class Honours degree two years ago and now to be working for an MSc in Sport and exercise psychology, just to keep my brain ticking over, and distance running to try to keep my body fit! 7 - WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEARN THAT WOULD HELP YOUR BUSINESS? I would like to learn how to promote my business better – that’s why I’ve joined CAP, as I know it’s going to help me do that. 8 - WHAT MISTAKES HAVE YOU MADE, OTHERS COULD LEARN FROM? Probably not getting into networking earlier - I won’t mention all the other mistakes! 9 - WHAT KIND OF BUSINESS CONTACT WOULD HELP YOUR BUSINESS? Anybody who needs furniture basically - certainly estate agents, residential homes, holiday lets, B&Bs and hotels would be useful for me, and it’s also useful to know of a variety of contacts from CAP that I can pass on to my customers. 10 - CAN YOU RECOMMEND ANY MOTIVATIONAL BOOKS THAT HAVE HELPED YOU? Rather than motivational books, I think I’ve been helped by listening to the many extraordinary people who I’ve met on my journey through life. 11 - WHAT WOULD BE YOUR NO1 WISH IF YOU HAD A GENIE? – Not to have made all the mistakes I made in the past probably! 12 - WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BEST CAP BUSINESS CLUBS EXPERIENCE TO DATE? – Starting at CAP - and I’m sure I’ve got lots of brilliant experiences to come! |
Testimonials
‘Fantastic service from start to finish. Kathy was very patient and helpful with us in the shop, giving us advice and letting me bounce ideas off her. The lads that delivered were lovely, helpful and efficient. I was hoping to have our old bed dismantled and out the way before they got here but didn't manage it so they very kindly took it apart and moved it to where I wanted it and then built the new bed in situ. Nothing was too much trouble for them and all packaging was taken away. Thank you to the whole team. I would definitely use you again and recommend anyone else to come to you.’ - Sue Thompson ‘A wonderful furniture shop with a wonderful owner. Purchased 2 kingsize bed frames and a king mattress - everything is fantastic, and was very reasonably priced. Kathy is an absolute joy. Furniture was delivered by Kathy’s partner John who was equally nice and very helpful. Honestly could not recommend this shop enough!’ - Dan Muller ‘What amazing service, needed new bed urgently. Bought and delivered in less than 3 hours! Totally recommend. And Kathy is lovely too!’ - Hilary Williams ‘Amazing service throughout, this is what big companies get so wrong. Kathy could not be more accommodating and lovely. Will be back for sure xx - Karen Davies ‘I am so pleased with all the lounge and bedroom furniture I purchased at DK Furnishing. Kathy was so helpful and nothing was too much trouble. First class service in every respect from purchase to delivery by this friendly family run business. So glad I shopped locally and would highly recommend to anyone looking to refurnish their home. Thanks again DK.’ - Sally Humphreys |
