Following on the heels of its launch last November and its early success with retailers, Bushboard has released a range upgrade on July 25th of its pioneering ‘installer-ready’ M-Stone range of quartz worksurfaces which draws on the feedback from retailers and over 500 installers who have already attended Bushboard’s free one-day training and installation course.
By popular demand, two brand new colours have been added. These are Pewter Stone, a modish grey colour and Almond Stone, a contemporary neutral which add to Ivory Stone, Black Diamond Stone, Black Gem Stone and White Gem Stone. The palette reflects the top six selling colours in the quartz sector following extensive market research. In addition, the thickness of the quartz material has been changed from 25 to 20mm, which brings it in line with the standard thickness in the quartz market, while also facilitating even easier on-site installation as it’s lighter to handle.
Bushboard’s strategic approach with M-Stone puts the installation firmly in the hands of retailers, giving them the direct control of the worktop fitting by their own installers.
It overturns the traditional template-fabricate-fit route of all other brands, enabling M-Stone to be fitted including shapes, cut-outs, routering and any sink style in just a day, rather than the norm of 7-10 days. The retailer gains the benefits of tighter project control, faster completion and enhanced margins from the self-fit.
M-Stone quartz retails around £270 inc VAT per linear metre and Bushboard estimates that it can be supplied and installed at 30-40% below the major brands operating in the quartz sector.
Says Stuart White, managing director: “Templating and waiting is a thing of the past now as the market increases its awareness of the installer ready benefits available. If an installer can fit laminate worktops, then he can train to fit our quartz ones too, very easily, making this a great product for retailers to be able to offer today’s design- and value-conscious consumer.”
M-Stone quartz material is available in a solid 20mm thickness for worktops and breakfast bars with upstands and splashbacks in 12mm. Worktops are available in 3050 x 650mm and 1500 x 650mm, breakfast bars in 2100 x 900mm, upstands in 3050 x 100 x 12mm and the splashback is 1400 x 1000 x 12mm.
Bushboard runs free training days weekly at its Wellingborough headquarters where retailers and installers can learn the skills needed for a professional installation of M-Stone and any other of the company’s products.
Supporting the launch is a newly-designed POS package which is being merchandised to Bushboard’s registered 1600 retailers nationwide. It is also available to new retailers interested in working with the brand. The POS package includes a brand new 20 page consumer brochure with inspirational photography, a counter-top sample display and a reference binder. There is also a 24 hour free sample service for consumers.
