£500k boost is ideal birthday present

Avanti has spent the largest sum in its history on upgrading its network of nine showrooms across the region to install state-of-the-art displays and to improve the customer experience.

The Lye-headquartered company, which is shortlisted for the Black Country Chamber of Commerce Awards next month, will now be able to feature its largest ever collection of kitchen, bathrooms and bedrooms, including leading brands like Siemens, Bosch, Neff, Vitra, Dida and Methven.

This expansion will help the firm hit £11m of sales in 2017 and will also see it introduce a number of its own products to a client base that features couples and families looking for a 'bespoke' finish.

"2016 has been a very big year for us, not least because we are celebrating a big milestone for the business," explained Lee Capewell, managing director.

"We wanted to do something that marked this achievement, but also put a marker in the sand about where we are going and our intention to become the West Midlands' leading retailer of kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms."

He continued: "Our clients told us they would like more choice and clearer displays so we listened to them and have incorporated their feedback in the latest changes to our showrooms.

"All nine of them – from Dudley and Stourbridge to Shirley and Streetly – now have cutting-edge displays and have been made to feel more welcoming…there's also been a lot of money spent on giving our staff even more training."

Employing 100 people, Avanti is currently finalising its biggest ever appearance at Grand Designs, with the company taking two different displays at the show starting tomorrow at the NEC(19th October).

Visitors to the event will be able to see some of the latest designs and ranges for kitchens and bedrooms, including reclaimed oak doors and the big on-trend fashion of cupboards with no handles.

More than 100 appointments are expected to be booked during the five days and this could equate to more than £300,000 of new business for the company.

Lee added: "At the moment it's all greys and whites with straight lines and minimalist is definitely right on trend. Handleless doors are also very popular

"We are introducing a new range of traditional kitchens, which have been given the 'on trend' treatment…that's taking traditional wooden furniture and bringing it right up to date with painted finishes straight from the page marked hipster. An example of this will be on display at Grand Designs."

Meanwhile the firm is doing its bit for Black Country football by agreeing to sponsor new match day and training kits for Stourbridge FC's junior and girls teams, who have their sights set on securing league and cup glory whilst competing against teams from across the Black Country.

"We are very passionate about the communities we operate in and like to give something back to charities, community groups and local schools," said Lee Capewell, who has strong links with the people running Stourbridge."All of us love our football and when the opportunity came up to sponsor our local team we jumped at the opportunity. It's important that we encourage children to keep fit and show them what it's like to be part of a team where you work together, make friends that last forever and have fun."