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About Mica

History of the Independent Retailer

Independent retailers in the UK haven’t had a good time in recent years. In the hardware/DIY sector numbers have fallen from 25,000 in 1970 to less than 6,500 now. This works out as 660 independent UK hardware stores closing every year - or nearly 2 per day, EVERY DAY.

In 1970 no-one had heard of B&Q or Homebase - now they are the market leaders within the DIY sector in the UK. Other market sectors have met a similar fate as the superstores mopped up - grocers, butchers, electrical stores etc. In the grocery sector the massacre only stopped with the arrival of Spar and Nisa etc - independent groups which gave their members a fighting chance.

What exactly is Mica?

Mica is a vehicle which helps its members compete with the larger corporate stores. Mica is a co-operative voluntary trading group owned by its members who are all first class independent hardware stores. It is retailer owned and directed, and management run. In many ways it is similar to Spar - what Spar is to grocery stores, Mica is to hardware/DIY stores.

Why should I visit a Mica shop rather than a multiple?

Every Mica shop shares one main aim - to help you the customer. After all it is you who keep us in business! We try to help you in every way we can and hope that by doing so whenever you need a DIY/Hardware product you will visit us - we all have ’regular’ customers who wouldn’t think of going anywhere else.

All Mica shops offer superb customer service. Each shop is owner run and managed - with the kind of care and attention to detail that only an interested owner can bring. Personal service is guaranteed - a thing so often lacking these days. If you need something we don’t have in stock we’ll try and get it for you; If you think you might need an extra roll of wallpaper, we’ll set it aside for you; If you’ve bought too many cans of paint, we’ll take them back.

Another benefit of visiting a Mica shop is that we know what we’re talking about! When it comes to advice, we’re second to none. With years of experience in the DIY/Hardware trade and expert knowledge of the products we stock, we can help you to choose the right product to meet your needs - whether it be a fixing for a cavity wall, a specialist primer for painting tiles, or a stainless steel cookset.

Aren’t B&Q and Homebase cheaper?

Regular advertising by the multiples convinces consumers that they are cheaper - in fact this usually isn’t the case. Normally a few key items are priced very aggressively to get customers into the stores, whilst the sundry products are more expensive to make up the shortfall. As Mica shops we ensure that our prices are competitive.

Mica has member shops throughout the UK - all of whom purchase their stock through the group. This gives us enormous spending power with our suppliers - which in turn means that you, the customer, can be sure of getting good, honest, value for money.

Good service, expert advice and great value... In other words we are able to offer you the customer a better deal all round!

 

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