Make It Cheaper assists Retra members in cutting business electricity bills

(19/11/2009)

The Radio, Electrical & Television Retailers’ Association (Retra) has appointed Make It Cheaper to assist its membership in cutting business electricity bills.

Barry Pattison, Chairman , Retra Insurance Services commented: “Keeping energy costs down is critical for Retra members as electricity consumption is among the highest per square foot of retail space. The feedback from our members which have taken the Make It Cheaper service up is very positive especially from those whose savings have been counted in the thousands of pounds.”

Jonathan Elliott, MD, Make It Cheaper, added: “Professional bodies and trade associations recognise that their ‘time poor’ members want an easy and safe solution to getting on and staying on the best available energy contracts. Our partners choose Make It Cheaper as we are able to compare prices and place contracts with 100% of the market and we operate in a fully impartial and independent manner. Furthermore the monthly reporting, which details each referred business, gives the transparency to member bodies, so feedback and benefits can be closely monitored.”

Established in 2007 and based in Central London, Make It Cheaper receives more utility price enquiries (2,000 a week) and arranges more new contracts (1,000 a week) than any other business-only price comparison service. Acting on behalf of customers with total impartiality and without charge, it offers cost savings across a range of products including cheaper business electricity and business gas. The prices it offers are often better than could be found by going direct to suppliers because of the volume of deals its negotiates. Make It Cheaper makes an average £1,500 saving per customer per year.

Not many people would be brave enough to start their own business in the middle of a recession but Kenny Graham has started two: Kenny's Music in Castle Street, Dundee and in Elgin Street, Dunfermline.

Kenny took the plunge in June 2008 when Sound Control, the company that had previously owned the stores and where Kenny had worked for 17 years, went into administration. “I knew there was an opportunity for good independent music shops with a focus on customer service”, said Kenny. Kenny is now in the business of making music dreams come true and is proud to stock more than 100 different guitars, including legendary brands Fender and Gibson, not to mention keyboards, amps, drums and everything else that makes a big noise.

You have to work extra hard in a recession - it's critical to offer great customer service and keep overheads down, says Kenny. We try to help every customer who walks through the door in Dundee and Dunfermline but we've also noticed a rise in our website orders from Europe because of the weak pound - Ireland, France and Holland in particular. Kenny has looked to cut his overheads where possible and as a member of RETRA, the trade association for electrical retailers, was advised to get in touch with Make it Cheaper, the business energy comparison and switching service.

“I was going to be paying £1,500 a year with my old supplier but with the switch I'm now only paying £942 which really is music to my ears. I'm delighted with the service and when our gas contract runs out, I'll be asking them to help out with that as well.”

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