Building bespoke kitchens

When it comes to kitchen planning, why not share the load with PlaceMakers and give yourself more time on the tools? Our new consultancy service and online ‘Plan your space’ tool, which showcases kitchen options for builders and clients, allows you to do just that

As part of PlaceMakers commitment to partnering with you, our builders – we are investing in systems, processes and platforms that support you beyond the actual build. Over the past year, this has included rebuilding the ‘Plan your space’ section of our website to make it easier for you and your clients to select the right products for their project.

PlaceMakers’ latest addition to these resources is for kitchens and everything in them – from stovetops to splashbacks to ovens to sculleries. It features a wide range of options that can be custom designed to suit most spaces, trends, and budgets, so your building clients get exactly what they want.

There is significant focus on the individual product options and how they compare to each other, as well as ‘inspiration projects’, which show some products in situ and feature comprehensive information on the product options available for people planning a new kitchen.

“By equipping our builders with the information and knowledge they need to make an informed decision, we hope to assist them in making a selection based on the client’s budget, preference and space,” says PlaceMakers Brand and Loyalty Manager Claire Warin.

“On the other hand, if their clients want to be more involved, or need inspiration, they can visit the Plan Your Space section themselves and share their preferences with the builder.”

While the resources sit on PlaceMakers’ customer-facing site, builders can also take advantage by using the ‘Check your trade price’ button to redirect to the trade portal and see their own pricing for that product. Check out the kitchen ‘Plan you space’ section HERE

No more kitchen chaos

PlaceMakers has covered every kitchen component your client might need. Categories include:

• Cooktops
• Ovens
• Rangehoods
• Dishwashers
• Microwaves
• Refrigeration
• Cabinetry
• Benchtops
• Tapware
• Splashbacks
• Hardware & Accessories

With more than 1,000 products available, across more than 40 brands, making the ‘Plan your space’ section builder and customer friendly was front of mind.

“The initial structure highlights the different categories available. When you drill into each item, the options become more specific to provide for space limitations and style preferences, while offering a wide range of brands,” says Claire.

All appliances and products are housed in the same area, making it easy for builders and clients to continue their kitchen journey as they select all the pieces required. With so many options, PlaceMakers new resources should inspire your clients and make the selection process smoother.

Custom cabinetry

To see how PlaceMakers helps realise kitchen dreams first-hand, clients can check out the ‘Transformation section’, which uses sliders to showcase before and after images of actual New Zealand kitchen renovation projects.

A stand-out offering is PlaceMakers range of cabinetry, which is custom built to suit your client’s needs and preferences. Types of cabinetry include Melteca in a variety of finishes such as flat colours, grained or hi gloss, acrylic with premium matte and gloss options, as well as sleek modern handle-less range.

A range of product options in a variety of finishes are featured on the ‘Plan your space’ site, allowing clients to better visualise how the different options look in situ. To take advantage of this custom cabinetry offering, which includes 15-year warranty*, builders need to book a consultation – for themselves or the client.

Offload your client’s kitchen planning

Our newest offering – facilitating and conducting kitchen consults for your clients – is specifically designed to take client management off your hands to free up your time, while putting them on the right path.

“We want to take the kitchen planning portion of our builders’ workload off their plate, while keeping the purchases on their account,” explains Claire.

“Our kitchen experts will contact your client to arrange a consultation, then sit down with them and help design their dream kitchen – using actual build dimensions and products available through PlaceMakers. All we need our builders to do is confirm that the client is happy for us to get in touch, then fill out an online form with the client’s details.

“No organising a time, no cabinet colour conversations, no to-ing and fro-ing about the best fridge for the space – we handle all of that for you!”

Leave it to the experts

This new approach supersedes our Kitchen Planner software, which allowed clients to design their own kitchen plan before sending it to their builder to share with the local PlaceMakers branch.

“While this approach was popular with some would-be designer clients, the designs were often not fit for purpose and clients without an eye for design struggled to use it,” says Claire.

“By arranging a consultation between the client and a PlaceMakers kitchen specialist, we can produce a customised design that builders know will fit the client’s budget and preferences, as well as the space available.”

Both client and builder benefit from the new arrangement, with the builder’s preferential pricing applied and all products billed through the builder’s account.

 

 

*Profile doors have a ten-year warranty.