Adopted Retailer February: The Leamington Kitchen Company
Continuing our series on kbbreview’s Adopted Retailers, we pay another visit to The Leamington Kitchen Company in Leamington Spa to see how the business is faring six months on…
Sponsored by Alku.
It may only have been a matter of months since the doors to the showroom opened but life at The Leamington Kitchen Company has been non-stop.
Just six months into its retail life, the showroom has already played host to two events, racked up 10 orders and got itself a nomination for New Kitchen Retailer at the kbbreview Retail & Design Awards 2025. In fact, co-founder Amanda Raine describes the beginning of the company’s journey as “something of a dream come true”.
“Looking back over the past six months, things couldn’t have gone any better,” explains Raine. “I’d be lying if I said it hadn’t been nerve-wracking at times. Starting your own business is a big deal and at quiet periods it was difficult not to worry but I can confidently say now that we’re in a really good place. We’ve already fitted two kitchens, have a further eight projects in the pipeline and the diary is filling up with appointments.”
Raine admits that part of the initial worry about how the business was faring was down to the length of time consumers take to commit to a project – from the initial consultation to signing on the dotted line.
“I put a lot of the early concern down to naivety around the length of the order process,” she explains. “That’s been a learning curve, understanding the reality of how long it takes to convert the orders. The bespoke element of our product offering has probably made the process even longer because people can literally have whatever size cabinets they want. Of course, people should take their time on a decision like this though, it’s a life-changing purchase and, ultimately the process gives us a lot of pleasure in making sure the customer gets exactly what they want.
“We’re just glad we didn’t react and now we’re just trusting in the process. Financially, if we continue at this pace, we’re on track to be slightly ahead of where we predicted we’d be at year-end.”
Avid readers may remember that before starting The Leamington Kitchen Company with husband Tom, Amanda had carved out a successful 20-year career in marketing, the majority of which she’d spent working at high-profile KBB brands. So, it should come as little surprise that her expertise in this field has played a significant role in building up the company’s presence in the area and that this activity is already paying dividends.
The plan was always to use the showroom as an event space in a bid to keep them front of mind for locals considering embarking on a new kitchen project. So far, the plan is in full swing. Its launch party was well attended by prospective customers, interior designers, architects, and estate agents as well as other local independent business owners. In September they sponsored the Leamington Spa food festival and, in December Raine even teamed up with a local florist to host a wreath-making class at the showroom. Talking to Raine, it’s clear that events will continue to play an important role in the company’s future but even more than that, it’s the opportunities that having a space like this are opening up, as she explains.
“Leamington Spa is a hub for independent businesses, and we’d always envisaged becoming part of that community but, you never quite know how things will work out,” she says. “I understand the power of marketing and branding but even I’m surprised at how this has developed. We’ve already hosted a local cheese company who did some filming here. A patisserie chef from the area has booked the space for photography and filming later in the year. This month we’re hosting an event in partnership with an award-winning local butcher, Aubrey Allen. They’ll be talking people through cuts of meat and demonstrating how to cook it using our appliances.
“I’m even sorting out branded cups that the coffee shop up the road has promised to use. And, many of the showroom props are produced by local businesses too. We’re proud to be building relationships with the local business community but it’s also bringing people in so it’s a win-win for us.”
Starting your own business is a big deal and at quiet periods it was difficult not to worry but, I can confidently say now that we’re in a really good place
Amanda Raine, co-owner, The Leamington Kitchen Company
Their proactive approach is paying off in even more ways. At the end of December, they found out the exciting news that the business had been chosen as a finalist in the New Kitchen Retailer Category in the kbbreview Retail & Design Awards 2025.
“We’re grinning like Cheshire cats,” she says. “When we sat down to write the entry, we honestly didn’t believe we’d be nominated as a finalist, we just wanted to make sure we were doing everything we could do get the business off the ground really.
“We’re humbled by it in all honesty, and whatever the result at the ceremony in April, it tops off what’s been an amazing start to our business journey.”
Harking back again to when we first met the Raines, as parents to two young children, one of the prevailing motivations for starting their own business was to get a better work/life balance. But, considering how it’s taken off, has it worked out the way they’d hoped?
“I won’t sit here and say it’s been a walk in the park,” she laughs, “it hasn’t. It’s been a slog at times, as you’d expect, but the freedom to be able to be there for the children and to be doing a job you love, while building something tangible for your family, is amazing. It’s been life-changing.
“Our aim was to be relatable to our target audience, so we’re just upfront with clients if we have to close the showroom on a Saturday because of a kid’s birthday party or if the children have to join us in the showroom. We’re honest about it and our clients seem to appreciate that.”
Work/life balance
Now that the business is making a name for itself in the community, aside from keeping that momentum going, the next challenge is deciding when to take that leap from business owners to employers.
“For us to maintain the level of work/life balance we want, while also managing a flourishing business, we will, at some point, have to decide whether to take on another designer,” she explains. “It will be a nice decision to have to make but we don’t want to risk anything so the time will have to be right, and the trick is knowing when that will be.”
Further down the line, Raine talks about tapping further into husband Tom’s practical skills, developed from a career in construction management and expanding their services to include building work and renovations outside of the kitchen space.
“As we continue to find our feet our focus will stay with kitchen design, supply and fit,” she concludes. “But, sooner or later that will inevitably develop into more complicated renovations in the kitchen space and possibly even other areas of the house. So, we’re thinking about how that will work. On top of that, we’re already thinking about the entire proposition and whether we could replicate what we do in a different area.
“When things are going as well as they are, it’s hard not to get carried away but, I’m also conscious that we don’t want to grow too quickly. So, we’re just trying to enjoy the journey.”