What do topps tiles need to do to fix their bad reputation?

[cam_low]

It's well known amongst everyone here that Topps don't have the greatest reputation on here?

if you were running the show...what would you change or implement?

 

[Qwerty]

Knowledge of staff & better trade prices!

 

[White Room]

I go into my local one about once a fortnight and every time the staff have changed, so why are they losing there employees at such a rate of knots....theres a problem there somewhere and I thought they had trained staff.

 

[Bubblecraft]

I don't have a problem with Topps & they are my main supplier. Use 3 shops that are local to me & staff are really good.

As a company though, they really should be looking at trying to keep their trade clientele. Better price matching, larger variety of adhesives & grouts though I don't have a problem with Bal.

 

[Bubblecraft]

The staff shifting thing is a massive problem. They move a lot of staff up my way.

 

[macten]

My only gripe is their pricing.

Reduce material prices for both trade and non trade.
Give the same discounts to everyone in the trade.
Tiles are pricey too - last time I set foot in one of their stores was to price up 40m2 of 60x60 Roma tiles.
Customer was shocked at price (not as shocked as me), drove her 2 mile to TG and got same tiles for £200 less.
Stock a greater range of materials (not easy because of the relationship with BAL I suppose)

 

[AliGage]

I don't have a problem with Topps & they are my main supplier. Use 3 shops that are local to me & staff are really good.

As a company though, they really should be looking at trying to keep their trade clientele. Better price matching, larger variety of adhesives & grouts though I don't have a problem with Bal.

I completely agree.

I use Topps quite regularly. They help me a lot getting work and in turn i offer advice, and buy product if they can at match competitors. There's a great bunch of lads at both the Peterborough branches.

However, i've said it to the guys. I have no idea why they opened a second store in Peterborough. I would have suggested they turn one into trade counter and store and have the other as a showroom with a better display setup. Some suite in a cubicle etc. It's a bit discount warehouse currently. Better trade discount is a must. If they look after the trade their sales will increase, guarenteed. But currently it's not that competitve.

Apparently they're trialling a new setup in the Milton Keynes store. Kitted out with proper displays etc. Haven't been near enough their recently to have a look though.

 

[bugs183]

On the whole I find the attitude of the very poor, except for the guys in the Kings Heath Birmingham Branch, they were really good.
You have to beg to get a half sensible price out of them, then you get a lecture from someone thats never fixed a tile in their lives about, they show no care for people with any experience.
I avoid the place as much as in physically possible!

 

[kevin67]

im in the glasgow area and they shuffle their staff about quite alot, but i use them as my main supplier and dont have a problem with them. they usually have everything i need in stock and they also give my cards out, so i dont have any problems with topps

 

[Bubblecraft]

im in the glasgow area and they shuffle their staff about quite alot, but i use them as my main supplier and dont have a problem with them. they usually have everything i need in stock and they also give my cards out, so i dont have any problems with topps

Glasgow (GWR), Hillington or Govan branches?

 

[kevin67]

used to use hillington for years then they moved some of the staff to govan, so use that one all the time. im a govanite so feel at home there lol

 

[jonnyc]

I only go in a few times a year and its always out of my area when just trying to pick some material up.
nice sales people but I don't think that they have any real product knowledge outside of what their team leader has taught them or a manual. In my neck of the woods it is quite strange but there is a core of six to ten guys who all went to school together and have all been in the business for 20 years plus in sales in the tile business. They seem to move from one tile shop to another and we all know each other and at least I don't need to listen to some cocky sales person telling me nonsense.i should add that the guys who learnt from the sales staff who had long term experience are aso good. But I don't think you will find them working in topps tiles.
I also think topps have a strange way of discounting their products.there is nothing wrong with giving better discounts to regular customers but if you are trade you should not be insulted with outlandish costs for materials ,having signed up for their card if you only pop in once and a while.

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I only go in a few times a year and its always out of my area when just trying to pick some material up.
nice sales people but I don't think that they have any real product knowledge outside of what their team leader has taught them or a manual. In my neck of the woods it is quite strange but there is a core of six to ten guys who all went to school together and have all been in the business for 20 years plus in sales in the tile business. They seem to move from one tile shop to another and we all know each other and at least I don't need to listen to some cocky sales person telling me nonsense.i should add that the guys who learnt from the sales staff who had long term experience are aso good. But I don't think you will find them working in topps tiles.
I also think topps have a strange way of discounting their products.there is nothing wrong with giving better discounts to regular customers but if you are trade you should not be insulted with outlandish costs for materials ,having signed up for their card if you only pop in once and a while.

 

[Bubblecraft]

used to use hillington for years then they moved some of the staff to govan, so use that one all the time. im a govanite so feel at home there lol

Ain't been in Govan branch for a while. Is Jon & Boab still there

 

[kevin67]

i thought all topps traders got the same discount

 

[Bubblecraft]

Nah, they don't. There's a set computer discount depending how much you use them and also the D button. It's a halfway discount between retail & trade.

I just bump them down anyway. As long as their margin ain't any lower than 45%, they not get there buts kicked so always ask what the overall margin is