Meet Andy Turford

Meet Andy, Our Showroom Manager In Mansfield

If you have visited the Mansfield Fireplace & Stove Centre showroom over the last few years, chances are you have spoken with Andy Turford.

Andy is the Showroom Manager at our main Mansfield location and has played a key role in shaping the business into what it is today. From embracing new technology to expanding product ranges and leading the showroom team. Andy has been central to the growth of Mansfield Fireplaces.

How long have you been with Mansfield Fireplaces and how has the business changed in that time?

This is my 3^rd successful Year at Mansfield Fireplace & Stove Centre and the business has gone through a lot of development and changes since I first joined. 

Most significantly of which is the introduction of tech into the business. It allows us to streamline business processes and create in house marketing, POS and more importantly a Digital Design service. This allows us to create a client’s perfect fireplace, stove, or media wall vision directly on screen for them to view and discuss before their purchase from us. 

Alongside the implementation of our digital systems, we have also recently relocated to a much larger premises from our previous showroom. This has allowed us to grow our stunning range of media walls, stove, and fireplace suites. 

Due to the larger layout of our upgraded showroom, it sets the perfect scene for our customers to see what their finished installation will look like in their home. 

Other significant changes during my tenure as showroom manager include an increase to our ever-growing team of experienced certified installers and knowledgeable showroom personnel. Improvements on new brand agreements with our highly reputable manufacturers such as HWAM, Kalfire, STUV, Charnwood and Chesney’s fireplaces. 

Further expansion into the North of England with our exciting expansion into a reputable luxury interior furniture store at Ponsford’s in Sheffield.

What role have you personally played in the growth of the Mansfield showroom?

Since Joining Mansfield Fireplace & Stove Centre I have made it my personal ambition to uphold the same level of customer service and desire. Helping to ensure the best possible experience for both new and returning customers whilst visiting our showroom or contacting us. My main role as showroom manager is to engage with each individual customer in a meaningful way as to better understand their requirements and advise on the best option.Helping to achieve exactly what they are looking for from both a functional and design aspect. 

Even though I have over 20 Years’ experience in most things’ fireplace related I am always striving to enhance my knowledge of new regulations and innovative products that offer better heating and design solutions for our clients. 

This continuous attention to detail ensures our customers are always receiving the very best level of expertise and customer service from both myself and the team and is what I believe is the key to the success and future of Mansfield Fireplace & Stove Centres continued growth.

What do you think has been key to Mansfield Fireplaces’ success over the years?

I think from my experience over the past few years one of the most successful key factors to Mansfield Fireplace & Stove Centre as a business is the dedication from both owners George and Joe. Supported by the team, they help ensure that every single one of our customers is treated with the utmost regard. 

Each client’s requirement is taken into consideration when searching for a functional heating solution for their home or a wow factor feature fireplace or media wall installation. 

It’s the reason we have a high rate of both recommended and returning customers year after year and our exceptional Google and Trust Pilot reviews continue to grow.

On par with our dedicated customer service and helpful fireplace experts are our highly experienced survey and installation team. All of whom go above and beyond to ensure each and every customer gets the same Mansfield Fireplace & Stove Centre 5-star treatment. From initial site survey visit right through to final installation. 

We know just how hard they work from our genuine online reviews of satisfied customers who mention our installers by name due to the friendly connections they have made during their installations with us. 

There are many other key reasons why our customers choose Mansfield Fireplace & Stove Centre but certainly customer dedication and our meticulous installation process have certainly been the key to our success.

How has customer demand changed during your time here?

Certainly, from my previous years of experience in the fireplace industry, the shift in fireplace trends has changed from traditional stone or marble fireplace suites. Although we still display a stylish selection of these in both our stunning showrooms at Mansfield and Ponsford’s to more contemporary media wall combinations, wall inset and wall mounted fires. 

We still have a high demand for our multi-fuel and wood burning stove packages but this tends to be more seasonal as and when the weather becomes colder during the Winter months which drives functional heating appliances at this time. Over the last 12 months I have personally found an increase in leading enquiries for gas appliances which I believe is due to falling gas prices and lowered costs of fuel importation in comparison to previous years although it still very much depends on the customers preference as to what works best for their particular scenario, function and style. 

Fortunately, our showrooms typically cover all installation scenarios from Electric, Gas, Solid Fuel, Fireplaces, stoves and Media walls to ensure there’s an option available for everyone.

What’s your approach when helping customers make a big purchase like a fireplace or stove?

My own personal approach to helping customers find a good solution for what they may be looking for. Certainly if they feel a little overwhelmed by the many options available, we should first of all spend some time listening to their reasons for looking for a fire or fireplace. I am a firm believer of ‘listening to people offers a powerful tool for connection’ and I find customers have a renewed respect for someone who takes the time and dedication to listen to their needs and requirements. 

There’s an old saying by Bryant H.McGill ‘One of the most sincere forms of respect is actually listening to what another has to say’ and I am completely in touch with that philosophy. Treating each and every customer this way has proven to ensure that they are completely satisfied with their purchase and instills confidence with their choice of media wall, fire or fireplace suite.

Do you have a particular product, setup, or style you’re especially proud of selling or installing?

I have many favourite products and displays in our beautiful showroom. It's honestly quite difficult to choose a favourite with so many stylish designs to pick from. If I had to pick one, I would say the suite that stands out the most for its stunning detail and craftsmanship would be the Mayfair media wall. It has a unique styling that stands apart from everything else in the showroom, with mirrored backing in each shelf, LED strip lights, double cupboards and paired up with a British Fires New Forest 1600 Black Edition electric fire, it really is the business. 

I would say the proudest display I have enjoyed helping many of our previous customers with would be the Virgo media wall. It’s a real show stopper due to the fact that it is completely suspended off the floor to create a floating effect. Pair this with the unique LED colour strip base light, elegant quartz top shelf, fluted wall panels and personalised wall lighting fixtures which makes this particular build one of the stylish options for any living space.

What does the Mansfield showroom represent to you personally?

I have worked for a few other fireplace manufacturers and managed showrooms in my previous years of employment. But I have never felt a genuine honest connection with like-minded work colleagues. All wanting to make a business the best it can be until I started working at Mansfield Fireplace & Stove Centre. 

Beyond being a place of work I can hand on heart say that each and every one of the team goes above and beyond to ensure that each customer receives the same consideration and attention as the last. 

This team ethic and unity to provide the best customer service possible resonates with me personally and represents the reason why I enjoyed managing the Mansfield showroom so much. 

For me personally I have to feel like we are here to help and make our customers' choices better to enhance their living space both from an aesthetic and functional standpoint. I have made some close friends since joining the team and hope to continue these lifelong friendships for many years to come.

Looking ahead, what excites you most about the future of Mansfield Fireplaces?

There are many things I am excited about for the future of Mansfield Fireplace & stove centre. The new extension of our already well-established Mansfield showroom in Ponsford is going to allow us to grow our client base further into the northern parts of the UK such as Sheffield, Rotherham and Doncaster. 

The implementation of new systems will ensure we can streamline our services which will in turn increase the efficiency when dealing with new enquiries and providing services to our ever-growing customer base. 

I am most excited about how much more we can grow and the many opportunities we are currently exploring to offer our varying types of customers, from architects and interior design services to retail and trade customers. The possibilities are endless. 

I’m excited to be here on the journey and look forward to each and every day as showroom manager for Mansfield Fireplace & Stove Centre.

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