Durham’s first-ever 4D bathroom design showroom is officially open for business, following a £100,000 investment by the fast growing Heating & Plumbing merchant, Flame.
Flame Heating Group’s Durham branch, on Dragonville Industrial Estate, has expanded its offering with the launch of a bathroom showroom, after acquiring the branch’s adjoining property to extend its premises.
The 1,500 sq.ft expansion is the first 4D bathroom design showroom in Durham, which offers customers the opportunity to view their tailored bathrooms complete with the products and features they have selected through a virtual reality headset.
The showroom will also include whirlpool bath displays, remote showers, as well as log burners among Flame’s product range.
As a result of the investment and comprehensive refurbishment works, a Showroom Manager position has been created at the branch, with Graeme Bonas joining the Flame team. There is also scope for further jobs to be created at the Durham site, and plans are in place to expand a number of the company’s existing branches to incorporate showrooms.
Flame currently operates eight branches across the North East, having started out with a single branch in 2011, when the company was established. It is also set to extend its geographical reach, with the launch of three branches in Scotland throughout autumn.
Simon Mann, Investor Director at Flame Heating Group’s Durham branch, said: “Flame has been well established in Durham and this latest development is an exciting time for the company, as we branch out and enter new markets. We are also proud to be the first firm in the area to offer a bespoke 4D design service, which will revolutionise the selection process for customers by offering a more personable experience when creating their ideal bathroom suites.”
John Savage, Managing Director of Flame Heating Group, added: “Simon and his team have worked incredibly hard throughout the development of the showroom, which is another major signal of intent as we look to extend our offering to customers. We have embraced new technology to create a customer-orientated experience with the 4D design capabilities and extensive product range available, featuring some of the industry’s well-renowned brands.
“Further expansions are in the pipeline as we continue to invest in our branch network and people. There is plenty of potential at many of our sites in the region to incorporate showrooms, and this is something we will be looking into, which will create more jobs and increase our presence.”
