How To Offer Finance For Fireplace Retailers

What customer finance really is in a fireplace showroom

Customer finance lets your buyers spread the cost of a fireplace, stove, media wall or full installation over an agreed term, rather than paying upfront. In practice, you present monthly payment options at the point of sale, and a regulated lender provides the credit agreement, decisioning and repayment collection. For fireplace retailers, this is particularly powerful because the purchase is often tied to lifestyle and home-improvement timing, and customers want certainty on what they will pay each month before they commit. With the UK fireplace and stove retail market showing steady average growth of around 3.1%, offering finance can help you capture a larger share of demand without relying solely on discounting.

Why customers choose finance for hearth products

Fireplaces are rarely impulse buys. Even when the unit cost looks manageable, the overall project can include surveying, installation, materials, hearths, beams, chambers, electrical work and finishing. Finance helps customers align the purchase with household cashflow while still choosing the model they actually want. This matters even more as electric and wall-mounted fireplaces grow in popularity, including premium smart models that suit urban homes and modern interiors. Buyers often prefer to secure the right design and specification now, then spread payments over a short, predictable period rather than compromise on features or postpone the project.

Where finance lifts revenue, not just affordability

Offering finance tends to increase sales in three ways. First, it improves conversion by reducing the psychological barrier of a large one-off payment, particularly with interest-free or Buy Now Pay Later structures that are already common across UK fireplace retailers. Second, it increases average order value by making upgrades feel manageable, such as a higher-output appliance, a more premium suite, smart controls, or a complete installation package rather than supply-only. Third, it shortens the decision cycle: when monthly costs are shown early, customers can move from browsing to buying with fewer follow-up calls. The retailers who win are usually the ones who make finance visible and simple, both online and in-store.

Typical transaction values in the UK (guidance)

Standout line: If customers can picture the fireplace in their room, they want to know the monthly cost immediately.

What you can put on finance

1. Electric fireplaces (including wall-mounted and smart models)

2. Fireplace suites, surrounds, mantels and media wall builds

3. Wood-burning and multi-fuel stoves

4. Gas fires and complete fireplace packages

5. Flue liners, twin-wall systems and ventilation components

6. Installation labour and commissioning

7. Accessories such as hearths, beams, grates and fireguards

8. Aftercare plans where permitted by your finance product

FCA and compliance: the essentials to get right

In the UK, retail finance is tightly regulated, and promotions must be clear, fair and not misleading. You should present representative examples accurately (including APR, term, deposits and any minimum spend), and ensure the customer understands that credit is subject to status and affordability checks. Your staff must know what they can and cannot say, especially around approvals and comparisons. A regulated finance partner helps with documentation, disclosures and the application process, but you still need compliant advertising and a disciplined in-store script.

The introducer model: how retailers offer finance without becoming a lender

Most fireplace retailers are not lenders. Instead, you act as an introducer, presenting finance as a payment option and then introducing the customer to a regulated lender through a broker or finance platform. The lender assesses eligibility, provides the credit agreement, and collects repayments, while you focus on selling and delivering the fireplace and installation. This model keeps the compliance-heavy lending infrastructure with the regulated provider, while allowing you to maintain a branded, customer-friendly experience. It also supports multiple plan types, for example shorter interest-free terms for customers focused on affordability, and longer fixed-APR terms for bigger projects.

A practical customer journey (online and in-store)

1. Make finance visible early: show “from” monthly prices on key categories and bestsellers, especially higher-ticket electric and wall-mounted models.

2. Let shoppers self-select: add a “finance available” filter on your website and tag eligible SKUs.

3. Bring finance into the quote: include payment examples in estimates for supply-and-fit projects, offering a few term lengths so customers can compare.

4. Confirm eligibility basics: check minimum spend, age requirements and any deposit rules before starting an application.

5. Customer completes application: the customer applies online, in-store, or via a link, with an instant or near-instant decision in many cases.

6. Agreement signed electronically: e-signing reduces delays and keeps the process smooth.

7. Finalise order and schedule: once approved, confirm product, installation date, and any site prep requirements.

8. Aftercare and documentation: provide clear receipts, installation certificates where relevant, and a simple point of contact for service queries.

Getting set up with Kandoo

Kandoo supports UK retailers who want to offer customer finance in a way that feels straightforward to buy and sensible to run. The aim is to help you present finance as part of the normal purchasing conversation, not an awkward add-on at the end. We help you choose a structure that fits your average order values, whether that is short-term interest-free credit for fast-moving electric lines, or longer terms for full installation projects where budgets vary. Just as importantly, we focus on the day-to-day practicalities: how finance appears on your website, how your team introduces it in the showroom, and how you keep quotes transparent by showing monthly costs alongside the total.

Next steps you can take this week

• Add monthly payment examples to your top 10 revenue-driving products.

• Build a finance-inclusive quote template for installation projects.

• Decide your hero offer: interest-free for shorter terms, plus a longer fixed-APR option for bigger jobs.

FAQs

Do customers expect finance when buying a fireplace?

Many do. Interest-free and Buy Now Pay Later-style options are widely used across UK fireplace retailers, and they can make higher-ticket models feel immediately achievable.

Should we offer 0% finance, BNPL, or both?

Often, a mix works best. Short interest-free terms can drive conversion, while longer-term fixed-APR plans support larger projects where spreading the cost matters more than a headline 0% offer.

Can we offer finance for installation as well as the appliance?

In most cases, yes, provided the finance product and your setup allow it. Bundling supply and installation typically improves clarity for the customer and increases your average order value.

When should we show finance: at checkout or earlier?

Earlier. Putting monthly payments into category pages, product pages and quotes reduces drop-off and keeps the conversation focused on what the customer can comfortably pay.

Will offering finance slow down the sales process?

Not if it is integrated properly. Many retail finance journeys support instant decisions and e-signing, which can speed up commitment compared with waiting for customers to arrange funds.

Are we responsible for affordability checks?

The lender performs the credit and affordability assessment. Your responsibility is to present finance accurately, avoid misleading statements, and follow the agreed compliant process.

Can we run seasonal campaigns like “buy now, pay later”?

Yes, and they can be particularly effective for larger home-improvement projects. The key is ensuring the promotion is clearly explained, time-bounded, and compliant in how it is advertised.

Do we need finance options for premium electric and wall-mounted models?

They are often ideal candidates. These products can sit at higher price points, and finance helps customers choose modern, design-led and smart features without cutting corners.