Neil Taggart shows us round TKC's new Customer Experience Centre

Neil Taggart, marketing manager at TKC, explains how the company's new Customer Experience Centre demonstrates the breadth of its portfolio and what its products can do for your business.

Q: What inspired the development of the Customer Experience Centre?
A: TKC’s business and product range has changed dramatically over the years with the move to being a multi channel and radically increased stock holding including over 80 door ranges. We acquired a second major site last year to facilitate further growth with the development of the centre in mind. We wanted an environment that conveyed the full breadth and depth of our product portfolio that customers would feel comfortable in and be keen to learn more. Customers visiting TKC have always been impressed by our people and passion, now they’re leaving inspired by what our product can do for their business.

Q: Can you walk us through what visitors can expect when they enter the centre?
A: Sure. The centre is on the upper floor of our new site and as customers reach the entrance, they’re met by a timeline wall of TKC that details all our milestones since our incorporation in 1989. Customers walk through double doors and see over 20 stunning kitchens displays that are grouped by style. Each display has an interactive digital screen that customers engage with to learn more about the range while there are 2 more screens playing product videos. Each display incorporates clever integrated storage and designer features with a variety of sizes and shapes while we’ve included an extensive sample area. The sample area shows different colours and materials, allowing customers to co-create and visualise thousands of options. Overall, the space is bright, airy and welcoming. 

Q: How does the layout of the space reflect current trends in kitchen design and retail?
A: We’ve created a mix of aspirational and realistic roomsets that reflect the space that most designers have to work with. Paint to order continues to grow in popularity so that’s reflected in our fascia colours with a number of bespoke colours also featuring. The layout is open, allowing customers to explore in their own way with a natural flow from top to bottom but there’s no stipulated walkways.

Q: What value does the centre offer kitchen retailers and designers?
A: The Centre has 2 main functions. Firstly, it helps TKC to train retailers and designers on our product range and our service proposition. The digital screens allow them to explore products at their own pace or to revisit areas they wanted more information on. Secondly, retailers and designers can then use the centre to host their own end user. They’ll naturally have displays of their own but if there’s something specific they want to demonstrate then they’re welcome to use the centre which is booked by appointment.

Q: Are there training, CPD events or product demos planned at the centre for trade professionals?
A: We tailor training to our different customer needs. Some who visit the centre are completely new to TKC and our offer, others have traded with us for 20 years and are looking more for design inspiration rather than training. We’ll be using the centre on going to demonstrate new product launches, it’s the ideal forum and we’ve designed the space in a way that’s conducive to display changes.

Q: What's next for TKC in terms of product development?
A: We’ve got really exciting plans for 2026, including the launch of the Plana Collection, 32 decors manufactured inhouse including concretes, textures, reeded and unicolour slab doors. We’ve got new timber options, new bespoke accessories and additions to our ancillary products as well. We’ve previewed some of the additions to customers informally and had a superb response. Our business is agile and we can make decisions quickly so as well as scheduled new product development, there’s always the option to react to an unforeseen market trend. We’d also expect to see further growth in our Jigsaw brand after the launch of our new rigid build service this year.