Page 49 - Tropic Magazine Issue 12

Industry
Profile

Why Status matters

Multinational online
retailers can never compete
with the type of localised,
personalised service of a
retailer like Status Plus.
As the popularity of online shopping with around 150 years of collective
grows, so too does an equal and experience between them. You don’t get
opposite reaction. In an age when that from a big box retailer on the
faceless, multinational corporations internet. Owner Ash Balderson
dominate, it’s refreshing – and understands why some people shop
rewarding – to buy from a local retailer. online. But he knows Status Plus
And while online shopping is delivers a better, higher-quality
sometimes convenient or cheaper, it alternative. He also wants people who
comes with other costs. e money you haven’t visited their showroom on
spend is sent out of town. Post-sale Anderson St to rethink what they know
service is almost non-existent. ere’s (or think they know) about Status Plus.
no human interaction or personalised Simply put, the showroom is
advice from an experienced remarkable. But at no point will
salesperson. customers be le t standing there feeling
e opposite is true at Status Plus. ey confused or overwhelmed by the range
are a long-term local institution, having and scope of products on display.
opened their doors in 1983. Client “I think people are almost at the point
service is second to none, with the now with online shopping that they’re a “We give loan refrigerators or washing to the online shopping giants is the projects. But Ash is keen to point out
Status Plus team given access to regular bit sick and tired of it,” he told Tropic. machines if they break down and our contribution a business like Status Plus that Status Plus caters for every budget
training to improve their skills and “We hear people saying they bought team aren’t earning commissions o f makes to our local community. Just some and client.
knowledge. Most of all, clients are something and it's lawed and no-one suppliers, so they’re neutral and of the charities and grass roots “We supply for Indigenous housing,
treated to a personalised shopping showed them any love a ter the unbiased when recommending organisations supported by Status Plus high-end commercial and residential
experience from knowledgeable sta f purchase. We’re di ferent at Status Plus. products,” Ash said. “We also try and includes YAPS, the Leukaemia buildings, and the sites with cranes on the
stretch the client's dollar as far as we Foundation, and local sporting groups skyline are being serviced by Status Plus.”
physically can go. Over the years we’ve and schools. Ash said. “About 80 per cent of the builders
diversified into bathroom, windows and “I'm local, my team is local, and we in town buy from us, not because we're
doors, tiles, blinds, retractable roofing, invest in the community,” Ash said. “ e nice people but because our pricing
shutters, kitchen/bathroom design, chain stores quarantine their margins structure is so competitive. We have access
interior design with free colour and it goes to Sydney and Melbourne or to every brand in the marketplace and our
consult... so we’re a complete overseas. Ours is reinvested in the clients can purchase nearly all goods from
homemaker’s centre. e footprint and community.” us whether they’re renovating or building.
size of the showroom is bigger and Status Plus is also reinvesting in its own It makes the experience super-e ficient,
better than anything else in Queensland future. e showroom on Anderson St especially when you can deal with the one
and no-one has what we have in terms of recently underwent a person throughout the process.”
the collective experience. We are unique multi-million-dollar refurbishment,
in Australia.” and the business is beating national
Another key point of di ference compared competitors to win contracts on large