Magnet Kitchens Alternative

Magnet is one of the UK’s best-known kitchen brands. They’ve been around for decades, they have showrooms on most high streets, and they spend a lot on advertising. But a well-known name doesn’t always mean the best value — or the best product.

I’m Steve, the owner of SJB Trade Kitchens. I’ve got over 20 years in the kitchen industry, starting out in retail before moving into manufacturing. I set up in Oldham to give homeowners and trade customers a proper alternative: a rigid-built kitchen cabinet made to order, sold direct, at a price that doesn’t have a showroom markup baked in.

Magnet positions itself as a mid-to-premium kitchen brand, and their showrooms are well-presented. But there are a few things worth knowing before you commit.

Showroom Pricing: Magnet runs frequent promotions — buy one get one free on cabinets, percentage-off sales, and seasonal deals. The problem is that when a retailer is always running a sale, the “original” price starts to look a lot like a fiction. It’s very hard to know what you’re actually paying versus what the kitchen is genuinely worth.

Carcass Construction: Magnet’s standard carcasses typically use 15mm or 16mm board with a hardboard back panel. That’s an industry-standard approach for retail kitchens, but it’s not the same as what we build. A thinner carcass with a hardboard back is lighter and cheaper to produce — but it’s not as rigid or as durable over the long term.

Standard Sizes: Like most high street kitchen retailers, Magnet works in standard module sizes. If your kitchen layout doesn’t fit neatly into those modules, you’ll be filling gaps with panels and fillers, which adds cost and rarely looks as clean as a properly fitted unit.

Fitting Costs: Magnet sells kitchens but doesn’t manufacture them. They use their own network of approved fitters, which can add significantly to the overall project cost. It’s worth getting a full installed price before comparing.

We’re a supply-only kitchen business based in Oldham. We don’t have a chain of showrooms to maintain, we don’t run fake sales, and we don’t use a network of fitters. What we do is manufacture kitchen cabinets and supply them direct to you — homeowner or trade — at a genuinely fair price.

18mm Throughout: Our carcasses are built using 18mm Egger or Kronospan board — the full carcass, including the back panel. Not hardboard, not 15mm. This makes a real difference to the strength and squareness of the finished unit, and it means your kitchen will still be solid in 20 years.

Blum Soft-Close as Standard: We fit Blum soft-close hinges and drawer runners on every kitchen we supply. Blum is the gold standard in kitchen hardware — used by the best manufacturers in the world. We don’t charge extra for it; it’s just what we use.

Made to Order, Custom Sizes: Because we build every cabinet ourselves, we can make them to whatever size you need. Awkward alcove? Unusual ceiling height? We can accommodate it. No filler panels, no compromises.

Transparent Pricing All Year Round: We don’t do seasonal sales or promotional pricing. Our price is our price, and it’s the same whether you come to us in January or August. Typically 30-50% less than you’d pay at a high street kitchen retailer for a comparable or better product.

No Trade Card Required: You don’t need a trade account or a trade card to buy from us. Homeowners and trade customers are welcome, and everyone gets the same honest price.

We’re based in Oldham but we supply kitchens all over the UK. Our lead time starts from just 10 working days from order confirmation, and because we build the cabinets ourselves, we control the schedule. Your kitchen arrives fully assembled — no flat-pack, no hours of on-site construction before your fitter can even start.

Whether you’re in Manchester, London, or anywhere in between, we can get your kitchen to you. Get in touch and we’ll talk through what you need.

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 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ready to see how much you could save compared to Magnet? Fill in the form below and we’ll come back to you with a straight, no-nonsense quote.

Not sure where to start? Just drop your details below or upload a rough sketch or floor plan. I’ll give you a ring to talk through the best layout for your home — no sales pressure, just honest trade advice from someone who’s been in kitchens for 20 years.

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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.