Meet the Team...

darrin@coopers-stores.com

When did you join coopers and what's your role?

I Joined Coopers in 1997 as a part time van assistant whilst deciding what I wanted to do with my life! Before I knew it, I had quickly worked my way up through the business gaining experience in every roll and discovered along the way that I had a flare for sales. From there I moved into management and procurement rolls and then on to finally buying the company with my business partner James in 2019. The experience I gained along the way has been invaluable and helped make Coopers what it is today, an industry wide recognised retailer with award winning customer service and an eye for the unusual.

What's your favourite thing about working there?

We pride ourselves on being a close-knit family style business with family values at our heart. I think everyone would agree that this isn't like any normal place to work. We all genuinely enjoy coming in and working together and that's what I love about this place.

What's your favourite product/s to sell?

Extraction is always under-considered in the kitchen and a lot of the time just an afterthought. Most people base their decision on styling alone but there is so much more to it. You need to consider the shape and size of the room, what you cook, decibel levels, how it will be ducted, can it even be ducted! I really enjoy the technical side of things.

What 1 product would be in your dream kitchen?

That's a hard one to answer as there are so many great appliances available to us, but if I had to decide it would probably have to be The Lacanche Citeux Moderne 1.5-meter-wide range cooker in either rose quartz or good old simple stainless steel. I'd never use it, just stare at it lovingly all day!

James@coopers-stores.com

When did you join coopers and what's your role?

I joined Coopers for the first time in 1996 as a sales assistant and spent a decade either working on the shop floor or delivering products. I enjoyed both roles but if I had to pick my favourite it would always be working on the van. I loved leaving a great impression of Coopers at the end of each delivery. It is no good having great service from the shop if the delivery service is not up to scratch. The customer will always remember a bad experience.
I left the business in 2006 to become a primary school teacher which I enjoyed until I was approached by Darrin with a view to jointly buying Coopers from Paul Cooper. The rest is history.
My role is in the background and I take care of the office administration which keeps me busy and allows me to live over 200 miles away, which keeps me from getting in the way!

What's your favourite thing about working there?

Coopers is and always was a family. Working there was a pleasure as the close-knit team all pulled in one direction helping each other out as need be.

What 1 product would be in your dream kitchen?

I have just installed a Quooker boiling tap with the chiller in my own kitchen. My boys love the sparkling water and I find cooking is made easier and quicker. I am not saying that I currently have the dream kitchen but if I was planning one, I would not be without my Quooker tap.

gary@coopers-stores.com

When did you join coopers and what's your role?

I’ve been with Coopers since January 2018. My role within the company has progressed from salesperson to store manager.

What's your favourite thing about working there?

The people I work with! It sounds corny, but that’s what makes Coopers such an enjoyable place to work. There’s only a handful of us and at times we all have to muck in and wear lots of different hats, it wouldn’t be possible if we didn’t all get along so well.

What's your favourite product/s to sell?

I don’t think I have a favourite, although, I do tend to lean towards appliances with built in technology. I really enjoy helping a customer hone in on what they want from their appliances, and help them to make a more informed decision.

What 1 product would be in your dream kitchen?

I’m a bit of a coffee guy. I probably have five or six different methods for making coffee at home, but there’s always room for one more. I’d love a Miele built-in coffee machine with DirectWater, with all the programmes, who knows, I might even reclaim some counter space back from all my other coffee paraphernalia!

roland@coopers-stores.com

When did you join coopers and what's your role?

I joined Coopers in September 2020 as a sales advisor.

What's your favourite thing about working there?

I love working in a small team that genuinely enjoys each other’s company and learning about new products and innovations within the industry.

What's your favourite product/s to sell?

I love to cook so anything to do with cooking. I really enjoy introducing new cooking methods to customers that they might never have normally considered, or even known about.

What 1 product would be in your dream kitchen?

It would definitely be the Smeg 120cm Portofino range cooker as it has everything in one package; gas and induction hobs, pyrolytic self-cleaning oven, steam oven and digital thermostats. This cooker literally lets you have it all.

mandi@coopers-stores.com

When did you join coopers and what's your role?

I have only recently joined COOPERS as a sales advisor and social media `Queen’, after 10 years in Fashion retail management and Stylist amongst other roles.

What's your favourite thing about working there?

The face to face (mask to mask) personal side of an independent business plus the close knit friendly team that I work with.

What's your favourite product/s to sell?

SMEG 100% the unique designs, beautiful colour palette and solid craftmanship. I love the SMEG Dolce Stil Novo hob…it is the ultimate in style and simplicity.

What 1 product would be in your dream kitchen?

The SMEG Fab 32….. 50s style fridge freezer in pink is the perfect statement piece in my dream kitchen ???? I would start with the pink refrigeration and build my kitchen around it.

When did you join coopers and what's your role?

I joined Coopers last summer primarily doing deliveries and liaising with customers.

What's your favourite thing about working there?

I love the fact that we all work and play together, and everyone is happy to jump in and help with whatever is needed. I also get to see some truly stunning properties and jaw dropping kitchens. From ultra-modern German designs to the traditional country house kitchen. I love them all.

What's your favourite product/s to sell?

As I’m on deliveries, smaller appliances are always nice. Although, the challenge of a large range cooker or American style fridge freezer is always quite fun!

What 1 product would be in your dream kitchen?

I get to see lots of amazing kitchens, and I love the minimalist feel and space a venting hob give.

When did you join coopers and what's your role?

I Joined the company in January 2022 and will be delivering and connecting up the wide range of appliances

What's your favourite thing about working there?

It’s early days but the guys all seem really genuine and I can’t wait to be part of this team.

What's your favourite product/s to sell?

There are just so many to choose from and I’m coming across new appliances every day. Ask me again in a few months and I’ll have my dream list ready for you.

What 1 product would be in your dream kitchen?

The enormous Fisher Paykel fridge freezers are amazing and so far, I’d say are my favourite appliance. But they are heavy so please allow us time to safely get them into your home!

When did you join coopers and what's your role?

I joined Coopers in 2017 and worked in sales and deliveries for a year before moving to the midlands for a job in marketing. I’ve recently come back to help manage web content and other digital bits and pieces.

What's your favourite thing about working there?

Working with good people was something I loved about Coopers and why I’ve come back. Family and close knit are genuine descriptions for Coopers

What's your favourite product/s to sell?

I love all Smeg’s products. Selling a Smeg range cooker always felt good because you knew it would take pride of place in the customers kitchen.

What 1 product would be in your dream kitchen?

A Smeg range cooker with everything. I’ve always preferred gas but recently have had to use induction. I was blown away by how good it is. I’d want a duel fuel hob and double ovens.

Dean Mahony

Dean is a fully qualified plumber with Gas Safe registration. We can arrange for him to undertake all appliance installations requiring gas connections. He is also a highly skilled kitchen fitter, so we often recommend him for jobs which require kitchen alterations, and for complicated extraction installations.

Jack Mahony

Jack is the newest member to join the team and is a qualified plumber with a wealth of practical skills. Always eager to help and with a great eye for detail. He often works along side his dad (Dean) on larger jobs.

Sebastian King

Seb is an NIC and EIC accredited electrician and can carry out any electrical work required for your appliance installation, from a simple like-for-like replacement to a full house re-wire, Seb has the skills to do it all.

Simon Bush

Simon is our go to appliance engineer. If an appliance installation requires a little more attention than our delivery team can provide, we can arrange Simon to do the installation for you. He’s also the person we’ll recommend if you have an out-of-warranty appliance needing a repair.