Time for change at Kings Lock Chandlery
HAVING acquired the boatyard in 2003, Kings Lock Chandlery has always aimed to adapt and evolve its business alongside the Trent & Mersey Canal at Middlewich.
A spokesman said: “At the outset we started to build boats and run a small chandlery; this enabled us to forge close links with some of our suppliers. During the financial crisis of 2008 we chose to move away from boat building as it became apparent there was far less cash and fewer customers.
“At this point we took on the Webasto dealership along with Morso and Hempel, utilising our boat building knowledge to provide other boat builders with equipment. To that end we still supply lots of those customers, in fact our customer base is still growing.
“With the advent of Covid-19 and the confined nature of our premises, we have chosen, after 17 years with the same space, to expand. In doing so we have added 25% to the size of the shop and are in the process of a major refit.
“The outside of the premises has also seen a major facelift. We have remained open throughout the alterations and plan to fully reopen towards the end of September. On a business level we have chosen to fully embrace the opportunities our key suppliers have been able to offer, be that electric charging points from Webasto to complete electric propulsion systems supplied by Vetus, including a fitting service for boat builders; all this while providing our traditional services in a much more focused environment.
“We can’t wait to fully reopen our doors, meeting and greeting our long-standing customer base and welcoming new faces along the way.
“Be it for a tin of paint, a new engine or a bag of coal, all will be welcome in our new, improved chandlery. The shop is also now complete with dog moorings.”