Archive Poll Results

We want to hear from you, our visitors, on the polls you would like to see run on our front page. We aim to run each poll until 50 votes have been posted. Although this is not a massive cross section we believe it is sufficient an amount to gauge current trends so let us know what poll you wish to see and remember, it must be kitchen related.

Scroll down for results of our previous polls.

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Poll 8

What is your main criteria when choosing a kitchen product?
Cost		63.6 %
Brand Name		3.6 %
It must be environmentally friendly		3.6 %
Efficiency and sustainability		29.1 %

Hardly surprising that cost is the main criteria when choosing a kitchen product yet efficiency and sustainability are high in the priorities of just under a third of our 55 voters. Brand name counts for little in an age manufacturers must back their reputations up with cost and efficiency uppermost in the consumers mind when choosing a product. Equally surprising is that there were so few votes for environmentally friendly products but I guess this may be down to the fact that there aren't so many yet to choose from in our industry and that what there is available can only be sourced at a premium because of their Eco friendly tag. Our aim at TFI over the coming months will be to identify products that, not only aid our future generations, but also offer good value and remain efficient in their operation.

 

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Poll 7

How important is a design service?
A basic diy store plan is fine		20.0 %
A comprehensive and realistic image is important		68.0 %
A quick sketch of how it will look is sufficient		8.0 %
Don't need one at all		4.0 %

It seems overwhelmingly the case that there is no substitute for quality realistic design and a large majority of voters wish to see a quality photorealistic image before making further progress with their project.

20% are happy to go along with a basic store plan and as these carry no apparent costs, a fifth of all voters isn't too surprising.

A quick sketch is enough for 8% of voters. Not for them time spent longingly looking at a near perfect image of your dream kitchen.

Not surprisingly only 4% voted for the total absence of a plan and I suspect that the 2 persons who voted here were either fitters or designers anyway.

Verdict - There is no substitute for viewing a realistic image of what you are about to buy and it offers comfort in the knowledge that your kitchen wil be as your design shows. Store plans are fine for the purpose of a purely functional kitchen that may not warrant the additional cost of design but surprises can sometimes be left in store when fitting takes place.

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Poll 6

My ideal choice of worksurface/countertop would be
Laminate		18.0 %
Acrylic Seamless eg Corian		24.0 %
Engineered Stone eg Prestige Quartz		30.0 %
Stainless Steel		2.0 %
Glass		10.0%
Solid Wood		16.0%

An interesting poll that proves the ever increasing popularity of the hard and solid surfaces with consumers. Engineered Stone, (Quartz), my personal preferrence, came out top with almost a third of all who voted.

It seems that many have identified the difference between the man made quartz and the acrylic surfaces which came second and achieved almost a quarter of the votes polled.

Stainless Steel fared disappointingly with only 2% of the vote. Glass however, seemed to perform well with a fifth of the vote and as a central island it adds that extra touch of class to any kitchen.

Solid Wood performed well as would be expected and is the first choice in not only traditional designs but has found a niche in the more contemporary of designs.

Laminate achieved 18% of the vote and remains for the favourite choice for those who don't warrant the comparitive cost increase of it's more epensive rivals worthwhile.

An increasing number of designs include two or more of the above surfaces and each have their own specific strengths in the kitchen.

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Poll 5

Would you purchase your complete kitchen over the internet?
Yes		34.0 %
No way		12.0 %
Maybe, if I was certain of the integrity of the company		34.0 %
No, I have to feel and see the quality		20.0 %

Well, we ran this poll to 100 votes and potentially almost three quarters of those who voted would purchase their whole kitchen over the internet.

Surprisingly 34% would seem to have no qualms about determining the honesty of those they buy from but we put this down to a presumption that they would, at least we hope so.

20 voters would never substitute images and description for the touch and feel of a product and 12 would not contemplate the thought whatever the reason.

Verdict - Not many high St Stores display in written content, their policy and history as a website does and at the click of a button the cheapest price on your chosen products are available. Saves the legwork of doing the same on the High St.

A reputation can be won and lost on the internet so those who retail over it have to be on their guard in case they become regular content on the newsgroups. The results do seem to prove a growing confidence in e-tailers.

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Poll 4

Which of the following brands are you most likely to choose when buying your kitchen?
Baumatic		18.0 %
Neff		44.0 %
Electrolux		6.0 %
Hotpoint		10.0 %
Smeg		22.0 %

We allowed this poll to reach over 100 votes before deciding to analyse them. No particular reason other and we chose the manufacturers who responded to our first survey.

It's clear that Neff have the confidence of the consumer and this is no suprise having established an excellent reputation for efficiency and reliability. I suspect that the answers given in our survey went some way to assisting voters in their choice and Baumatic fared well for a relatively new kid on the block who are earning a good reputation for innovative designs. Smeg remain a trendy appliance to own but the result proves that Baumatic are making headway on them. Hotpoint and Electrolux fared similarly and perhaps suffer from a recognition that their products are not as well asociated with modern kitchen design as the other choices.

It will come as no surprise that you overwhelmingly voted for Neff above their competitors. They provide a tried and tested service and appliances that offer the consumer longevity and cost efficiency.

 

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