I’m Steve, and I’ve been in the kitchen trade for over 20 years. I run SJB Trade Kitchens from our showroom in Oldham — I’m a kitchen specialist who works directly with our manufacturer to supply rigid-built, made-to-order kitchens at honest prices. A lot of my customers come to me after getting a quote from Howdens, and the conversation usually starts the same way: “I’ve been quoted this much — can you do better?”

The answer is almost always yes. But it’s not just about price — it’s about what you actually get for your money.

Howdens is a trade-only supplier. Their pricing model is based on individual trade accounts, which means the price a builder pays depends on how much they spend, how often they buy, and how well they negotiate. Two fitters can walk into the same Howdens depot and get quoted completely different prices for the same kitchen. There’s no published price list. There’s no transparency. And if you’re a homeowner trying to work out whether your builder’s Howdens quote is fair, you’ve got no way of knowing.

That’s the fundamental problem with Howdens — and it’s the reason so many people end up looking for an alternative.

I’ll be straight with you — Howdens sell a lot of kitchens, and they’re not a bad company. But there are some significant differences between what they offer and what I supply, and they’re worth understanding before you commit.

Carcass construction. Howdens supply flat-pack carcasses. They arrive in pieces, and your fitter assembles them on site. The board is typically 15mm or 16mm. I supply rigid-built carcasses — fully assembled, square, and solid — made from 18mm Egger or Kronospan MFC board with 18mm solid backs. That’s a meaningful difference in strength, rigidity, and longevity. My units don’t flex, they don’t bow, and they don’t need propping up with extra brackets.

Pricing. Howdens prices vary by account. I charge the same price to everyone — trade or retail, first order or fiftieth. My prices are transparent, published, and available all year round. No sale that conveniently ends next week. No “let me speak to my manager” discounts. Just a fair price for a quality product.

Made to order. Howdens stock standard sizes. If your kitchen needs a 437mm base unit or a 280mm wall cabinet, you’re out of luck — or you’re paying for filler panels to hide the gaps. Everything I supply is made to your exact measurements. Custom sizes are included in the price, not charged as extras.

Hardware. I fit Blum soft-close hinges and Blum Antaro drawer boxes as standard on every unit. Blum is the industry benchmark — smooth, quiet, and backed by a lifetime guarantee. Howdens use their own-brand hardware on most ranges.

Access. Howdens is trade-only. If you’re a homeowner, you can’t walk in and buy. You need a builder or fitter with a trade account to order on your behalf — and you’re relying on them to pass on a fair price. I sell to everyone. Homeowners, fitters, builders, landlords, developers — no trade account needed, no minimum order.

Every kitchen I supply comes with the same high specification — no tiers, no “good, better, best” pricing games:

18mm Egger or Kronospan MFC carcasses with 18mm solid backs. Full 18mm board throughout — the same specification that premium kitchen brands charge two or three times more for.

Blum soft-close hinges and Blum Antaro drawer boxes fitted as standard on every unit. Lifetime guarantee from Blum.

Made to order — any size. Standard dimensions are available, but if your space needs something different, I’ll have it made to those exact measurements. No surcharge for bespoke sizing.

Over 300 MFC carcass finishes. White, grey, cream, woodgrain, concrete-effect — whatever suits your project. Carcass colour is included in the price.

Delivery in as little as 10 working days. Once your order is confirmed, your kitchen goes into production. Everything arrives in one delivery — cabinets, doors, handles, plinths, panels, the lot.

I typically save customers 30–50% compared to Howdens for an equivalent or better specification. That’s not a promotional claim — it’s what I see consistently when customers bring me their Howdens quotes to compare.

I supply six main door ranges, each available in a wide selection of colours and finishes. Click any image below to see the full range.

I supply kitchens across Greater Manchester and nationwide. If there’s a Howdens depot near you, chances are I can offer you a better kitchen at a better price. Click your area below to find out more.

Manchester & Central

Howdens Alternative Manchester · Howdens Alternative Cheetham Hill · Howdens Alternative Openshaw

Oldham, Rochdale & East

Howdens Alternative Oldham · Howdens Alternative Hollinwood · Howdens Alternative Rochdale · Howdens Alternative Middleton · Howdens Alternative Heywood · Howdens Alternative Ashton Under Lyne

Tameside & Stockport

Howdens Alternative Tameside · Howdens Alternative Denton · Howdens Alternative Hyde · Howdens Alternative Stockport · Howdens Alternative Hazel Grove · Howdens Alternative Bredbury · Howdens Alternative Reddish

Salford, Trafford & West

Howdens Alternative Salford · Howdens Alternative Eccles · Howdens Alternative Irlam · Howdens Alternative Swinton · Howdens Alternative Worsley · Howdens Alternative Wardley · Howdens Alternative Stretford · Howdens Alternative Trafford · Howdens Alternative Trafford Park · Howdens Alternative Altrincham

Bury, Bolton & North

Howdens Alternative Bury · Howdens Alternative Radcliffe · Howdens Alternative Prestwich · Howdens Alternative Bolton · Howdens Alternative Farnworth · Howdens Alternative Horwich

Wigan & West Lancashire

Howdens Alternative Wigan · Howdens Alternative Hindley · Howdens Alternative Hindley Green · Howdens Alternative Leigh

If you want to see the difference for yourself, you’re welcome to visit the showroom. It’s at Unit N, Central Trading Estate, Coulton Close, Oldham, OL1 4EB — free parking right outside. Come and open the Blum drawers, feel the weight of the doors, check the carcass construction. Compare it to what you’ve seen at Howdens. No appointment needed, no sales pressure.

If you can’t make it in person, that’s fine — I’ll send door samples in the post and we can sort everything by phone and email. Ring me on 0161 509 4221 or email info@sjball.uk.

Every SJB kitchen starts with a detailed CAD design so you can see exactly how your finished kitchen will look before a single unit is ordered. Here is what that looks like in practice.

“Steve is absolutely epic! Really nice guy. 100% genuine and to be trusted. Really easy to work with. Couldn’t do enough and always on hand.

The kitchen was amazing quality and the kitchen looked exactly like the images he produced on his computer. The units came ready built which saved a lot of time! Even if you’re not a joiner it was really easy to assemble and fit.

The kitchen is great quality and a VERY competitive price! 100% recommended! Thank you so much!”

— Scott, verified SJB Trade Kitchens customer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

SJB Trade Kitchens is an independent kitchen specialist. All competitor names are used for comparative purposes only based on publicly available specifications. SJB Trade Kitchens is not affiliated with Howdens, Wren Kitchens, Magnet, or DIY Kitchens.