All posts by Flatpack Jersey

The Best Referrals of All

Bed assembly, Furniture assembly

I think the best ‘referrals’ you can possibly have are not actually referrals at all, but when a customer you’ve served in the past asks you back.

That happened again when a customer I first visited back in the summer contacted me again with a list of items for me to assemble.

This time it was a cot bed, a wardrobe, a changing table and a rocking chair and stool.

Not only did I not have to ‘sell’ my services to them, I didn’t have to explain my prices or how I work. Being trusted by my customers meant they had no problem leaving me alone in the house to get on with it. That makes things a lot easier for them, of course, since they have their own lives to get on with.

I wouldn’t necessarily recommend you leave a tradesperson alone in your house unless you know them very well, but I obviously have a trustworthy persona!

IKEA Office Furniture in St Helier

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IKEA besta storage combination with doors and drawersToday I finished the job I started yesterday afternoon, assembling some IKEA furniture delivered from the UK.

The client company is based in Guernsey and has recently opened their new St Helier office. Staff there were looking forward to filing away the various documents and folders they have already generated.

Having contacted me about the delivery and assembly of IKEA goods, they ordered online and arranged collection and delivery from a UK branch. It’s a simple process that I can tell you more about if you contact me.

I was able to begin assembly the following day (yesterday) and complete it this morning.

IKEA galant file cabinetSo, there were two GALANT filing cabinets, a low-level BESTA storage unit in two parts, a large EXPEDIT shelving unit and a KNIPPE hat and coat stand.

They didn’t need my help with the five DOKUMENT waste paper bins they’s also ordered. The two filing cabinets were completed yesterday afternoon, after I’d assembled the shelving unit. I’ve done a few of those units by now, so this one was very familiar.IKEA expedit shelving unit

Today’s BESTA storage unit was simple enough, but with a few fiddly details, including optional pedestal legs, three drawers and a glass top.

The two parts (two thirds and one third of the total) had to be in place and totally level before they could be screwed together, or the glass top would not have seated properly.

So, it all took a little while, but there were no dramas. Drawers and doors were simple enough to fit and align.IKEA knippe hat and coat stand

I’m looking forward to more of the same!

Assembling an Alphason Maryland Desk

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Alphason Maryland AW12010 deskThis was my first experience of an Alphason product and I have to say I was impressed with the quality and ease of assembly (which is usually dependent on quality anyway).

The desk is made from high-density particle board, with a very durable surface. The cam and bolt system is almost universal these days, but the quality of the cams can vary – these are of a high grade. Otherwise, the desk uses plastic dowels and 50mm screws, including in the drawers.

One very good touch was that all the smaller holes – for cam bolts and drawer runners – are not just pre-drilled; they also have plastic inserts that really help with accuracy and fit. Everything fitted perfectly and nothing needed ‘persuading’ into place.

The only minor quilbbles, quality-wise, could be the plastic handles and the exposed screw heads. The screws for the handles look too long and they feel very tight. However, they all went in just fine and the end result looks perfectly okay. Not a problem in the end. There are two exposed screw heads on each end panel and the plastic covers supplied are for the cams, not these screws.

In the end, though, no one is likely to notice, and the finished result is an attractive and very sturdy little desk, with three drawers on one side and a cupboard on the other, with an open shelf above each.

I’d happily recommend the Alphason Maryland desk to anyone who wants a compact and sturdy desk for a sensible price. It’s available from a variety of outlets.

Beds, Sheds and Butchers Blocks

Bed assembly, Bookcase assembly, Furniture assembly, IKEA Jersey, Shed assembly

It was good to see the eight-by-ten foot shed I built a few weeks ago survived the storm completely unscathed. Although there are trees and hedges surrounding much of the garden, the shed is on an exposed and raised patio area, particularly open to the southwest. Still, survive it did.

Groland Kitchen Island (Butcher's Block) by IKEA
Groland Kitchen Island (Butcher’s Block) by IKEA

Other items built recently include a butchers block and a double bed for one customer and a bookcase with doors for another. The bookcase was actually my first repeat customer since I started in Jersey in July. Repeat custom is always nice – it tells me I did a good job and makes it very clear that customers feel I give good value.

Not many businesses will last very long if their customers don’t feel that, of course. I’m confident you’ll feel the same, too. It’s a nice feeling and you can share it when you use the enquiry form or text or call me on 07797 827 862.

Sheds, Beds and Butchers Blocks

Furniture assembly, Shed assembly

I hope you’re enjoying the late summer weather – today was a great one to be outside.

As luck would have it, today’s job was a ten by eight shed from Ransomes, and I have to admit it was a heavy one! I started early before the day became too hot to work and had the basic shed assembled in about an hour and a half. The finishing touches – roof felt and glass – will be done tomorrow afternoon, which promises to be a bit cooler.

But this afternoon was definitely one for the beach…

On Friday I’ll be back indoors – missing the expected rain – putting together a double bed and a “kitchen cabinet butcher’s block kind of thing”, which will make a change. That will still be at the old price, of course, which you can still take advantage of just by making your enquiry before the end of Friday.

After that, prices will increase.

I’ll post some pictures very soon, but I have to say that’s an impressive shed!

 

A Day of Your Time or an Hour of Mine?

Furniture assembly

Recently, I had a call from someone who had struggled with a piece of flatpack furniture (a corner TV unit) and given up. It wasn’t that she couldn’t do it – she’d already built the item once – but having found it was faulty the first time, she shouldn’t face another whole day assembling the replacement.

Actually, it had taken over a day the first time but we all get better with practise.

Anyway, she saved herself the heartbreak, and about eight hours of her time, by investing just £30 in an hour of mine. That was all it took, too, because we really do get better at this kind of thing with practise, and her fault-free TV unit was assembled in what must have seemed like next to no time.

So, unless you enjoy assembling your own furniture – and I know some people do – and you don’t mind if it takes you longer than you expected – because it usually does – AND you’re confident you will do a professional job, you might want to call me.

You can get me on 01534 741462 (daytime only) or on my mobile 0779 782 7862. Or you can use the contact form on this site or you can email enquiries@flatpack-jersey.co.uk.

Be quick, though, because my hourly rate will be going up in September.

A Silver Lining, With Knobs On

BHS furniture assembly

Today’s job involved cycling all of two miles across St Brelade to finish last week’s BHS bathroom cabinet job. It couldn’t be completed last week, due to some missing cam locks, but a bag of replacements arrived by post this morning.

The job was finished in about half an hour and looks very nice, in a basic shaker style, with a small drawer above a single door, with one internal shelf. Painted white, with metal handles, it matches the existing decor well, and almost matched another small unit in the bathroom. In fact, all that didn’t match was the door knob.

So it was lucky that the bag of replacement fittings included another pair of handles as well as everything else, including the cam locks. That meant I was able to replace the painted wooden knob on the existing piece with a shiny chromed one to match the two on the new item.

For the sake of an extra minute’s work, a delighted customer for Flatpack Jersey – with many more to come, I’m sure!

Roy

Ready When You Are, But Be Quick!

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Having disembarked safely last week, it was good to get the first enquiries and booking before Flatpack Jersey was even open for business, and now we’re really up and running I’m looking forward to getting a lot more.

But the sooner you get in touch with me the better, because the introductory rates for Flatpack Jersey will only last until the end of August. Prices will have to increase on the first of September, so if you want to take advantage of the current prices you will need to contact me before then.

You can make an enquiry and a provisional booking, even if you don’t know exactly what you need help with or when you’ll be needing us – I realise this is the holiday season and you might have other things to think about!

But as long as you have a rough idea, I’ll accept that as a provisional booking at the current rate, with small deposit (10% of the estimate) to guarantee the price for two months.

Call or text me on 0779 782 7862 or use the enquiry form before the end of August to secure your introductory rate.

Hello Jersey!

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Flatpack Jersey has landed!

jersey opening weekend bannerFlatpack Jersey will be open for business on 13th July, with a special offer. Book us for the opening weekend, 13-14 July, and you’ll pay our weekday rates – just £30 an hour.

We’ve been assembling flatpack furniture, equipment and sheds professionally in Suffolk since 2011, with decades of experience before that, so you can be confident we know what we’re doing.

Get a great job for a fair price with Flatpack Jersey.