Major acquisition for Conservatory Outlet

A Wakefield manufacturer has announced the acquisition of one of its largest retail customers for an undisclosed sum.

The move will see Conservatory Outlet and Newcastle based Pennine Home Improvements under the same ownership. Funding to support the deal has been structured by Allied Irish Bank (GB).

As one of the top 2% of fabricators in the UK by volume, Conservatory Outlet manufactures window, door and conservatory products from its 60,000ft2 facility, supplying to a retail network of 24 installation companies that operate across the UK. This latest strategic acquisition is set to take the Group’s turnover to £25m – a reported five-fold growth achieved in the past seven years.

Greg Kane, CEO of the Conservatory Outlet Group, said: “We’re delighted to announce that Pennine Home Improvements and Conservatory Outlet have joined forces, bringing the manufacturing hub of our business closer to the customer than ever before.

“Pennine has been part of our network of retailers for just over three years, and has experienced an impressive 30% growth in that time, largely due to its highly committed management team and excellent internal processes. I’m certain our new vertical partnership will facilitate a level of knowledge-sharing never before seen in this market which will further support the growth and development of both businesses.”

Pennine Home Improvements will continue to operate as a separate retail business from its existing showrooms in Benton, Gosforth Park, Birtley and Ponteland. Graham Auld, the previous owner and managing director will exit the business. Mark Tinnion, the former brand director will become managing director and work alongside his fellow management team which includes Derek McLaren, sales director.

The combined ownership of the two businesses will allow further development of the group’s innovative product offer, processes and service features around the needs of the ultimate end-user.
Greg added: “The deal can only be of benefit to our wider network of independent retailers, of whom we’re extremely proud and equally as committed to supporting as ever – if they grow, we grow.”

Mark Tinnion, managing director of Pennine Home Improvements, concluded: “We’re really excited about joining forces with Conservatory Outlet and the opportunities for growth that it presents.
Our customers are at the heart of everything we do, and being closer to the manufacturing process can only enhance that.”

The post Major acquisition for Conservatory Outlet appeared first on Glass & Glazing Products Magazine (GGP).

Since Tuff X Processed glass launched the Ambi-Oversized glass in 2012, their manufacturing capabilities have proved to be valuable to many Installation companies. They have helped many clients solve numerous leaking conservatories roof for homeowners and improve them aesthetically at the same time.

A homeowner approached one installation company after her conservatory roof had started leaking a couple of months after being installed. With the company who fitted the conservatory originally no longer trading, the homeowner started to look farther afield for a reputable glass company who could solve their problem. Whilst researching, they came across TuffX’s oversized glass units and provided the installers with TuffX’s details. Having read about its benefits, they believed if they eliminated muntin bars from the roof, the complications would stop.                                                                                                                    The old conservatory roof had a total length of 3.35 metres; however, it had been fitted using two separate units, joined together with a muntin bar. TuffX understood that problems can come from Muntin Bars, this being one of the main reasons they wished to expand into supplying the oversized glass back in 2012, they invested in new machinery to manufacture glass up to lengths of 4000mm in 4mm Toughened. TuffX desire to give their customers endless choices to take to consumers, ensuring they get the most out of their conservatories.

TuffX supplied an Ambi-Aqua conservatory glass roof for the homeowner’s conservatory and the installer fitted it successfully. The glass is self-cleaning and offers up to 82% reduction from the sun’s heat rays, reducing the internal temperature of a conservatory in summer. The homeowner was delighted with the completed result, which gives her peace of mind. She stated, “I am so happy with my new glass roof. To say goodbye to the unsightly muntin bars was wonderful and now the leaks are fixed, I feel that my conservatory is finally a habitual environment to live in. My advice would be to make sure your installation company use TuffX as their glass supplier; I simply cannot fault their glass.”

TuffX manufactures a wide range of toughened processed glass for domestic and commercial use from its factory based in Merseyside. They are renowned for their assurance to supply high quality products whilst providing exceptional customer service. TuffX have over 20 Vehicles, offering a ‘free of charge’ nationwide transport service which can be delivered to factory or direct to site.

For any more information or enquiries please contact TuffX’s head office on 0845 3400 200 or email sales@txpro.co.uk.

www.tuffxglass.co.uk

Gareth Thomas, Sales and Marketing Director at Customade Group, doesn’t think aluminium has to be complicated

It’s encouraging that our recent political and economic upheaval doesn’t appear to have deterred UK homeowners from improving their properties with more than 50% of consumers planning a home improvement project this year. And with the latest report from mortgage lender Nationwide revealing that annual house prices have risen by 4.5%, it makes sense to invest in bricks and mortar.

Consumer demand for premium home improvements is growing – great news if you’re lucky enough to have customers with money to spend on luxury products like glazed extensions and aluminium windows and doors. Not so good if most of your customers are cash-squeezed and can’t afford those big-ticket items. A polarised market has led many installers operating in the saturated PVC-U arena to ask if they could secure greater profits by progressing to aluminium. Despite the higher profit margins of aluminium, it can be a daunting prospect for an experienced PVC-U installer to consider it. No one wants to get left behind in the marketplace but aluminium can seem a gamble, particularly as it has been plagued with a reputation for long lead times and complicated pricing structures. I’ve worked with hundreds of PVC-U installers over the years and I understand what they dislike about the aluminium supply chain. They always ask ‘why can’t aluminium fabricators turn around quotes quickly and offer the same lead times as PVC-u fabricators’?

Last year, we made a step-change for the industry with the launch of ‘REAL Aluminium’. Designed to help installers or retailers to enter the lucrative aluminium market with complete confidence, this exciting development made pricing, quoting and promoting aluminium easier than ever before and cut aluminium lead times to just two weeks. Many PVC-U installers want to diversify into the less competitive and fast growing market of aluminium but they just don’t know how it works. The message with REAL Aluminium is ‘don’t be afraid’!

The team behind REAL Aluminium is there to guide installers into the world of aluminium. We provide the installer with all the tools they need to promote and sell the most extensive range aluminium windows, doors and lantern roofs and we help them to use those tools effectively.

We provide a comprehensive and personalised marketing support package for installers, which includes the UK’s first retail brochure dedicated to the full range of aluminium. We also treat installers to one of our REAL Customer Days which gives them the chance to view the REAL range, see our impressive manufacturing capabilities and ask any questions about aluminium. These workshops have been a resounding success among our customers, helping them to increase their aluminium sales by an astonishing average of 281%. At our customer days, we help installers to understand how to sell aluminium as a lifestyle product to the homeowner. With homeowners potentially making a much greater investment with aluminium products that will make big impact changes to their homes, the pitch is not based on price but on product quality, aesthetics, performance and longevity.

Craftsmanship is another important element to consider. No homeowner wants the look of their sharp, clean aluminium frames spoilt by poor installation and we urge installers to ensure that their fitting teams have the skills to fit aluminium to avoid costly mistakes. We also advise on how to accurately survey to minimise the need for remakes. We do hold high stock levels of aluminium and this gives us greater flexibility to respond quickly if customers change or add to orders. And if replacements or re-makes are required, these can be turned around in just a week, compared to up to six weeks for competing systems. With REAL Aluminium, an installer can make an easy and seamless transition into aluminium and take advantage of the greater profit margins it brings. Our customer spend on aluminium – a 60% rise on last year – is proof that it is simple to make that leap.

The post Time to get on board with aluminium appeared first on Windows Active Magazine.

A recent survey from a reputable UK comparison site provider has found that more than half of the 2,500 homeowners they questioned would rather make home improvements than move up the property ladder.

Steep moving costs, stamp duty tax and high house prices are the main contributing factors to the ‘improve not move’ trend.

As of August 2016, the average house price in the UK is £218,964, rising by 8.4% compared to the previous year.

The report also found that homeowners who were looking to take the next step on the property ladder are taking on an ‘improve before you move’ strategy, with four in 10 respondents saying they would undertake home improvements specifically to increase the value of their home.

Popular home improvements include flat-roof extensions at the rear of properties to create open plan kitchen living space and premium products such as bi-fold doors.

Jeremy Brett, Managing Director of the Consumer Protection Association, comments on the trend: “With rising property prices and the steep fees associated with moving, many homeowners are staying put and instead choosing to invest in their homes.

“Creating more space tops the list of modifications but homeowners looking to move are also investing, choosing premium products such as bi-fold doors to add value to their home before selling.”

“Bi-fold doors were a focus at the Home Building & Renovating Show 2016, showing that homeowner demand for this product hasn’t waned. This desire from homeowners to improve their properties creates a good opportunity for our members to swell their order books.”

The CPA is a leading provider of Insurance Backed Guarantees and Deposit Protection and is widely recognised by consumers as a trusted resource for finding accredited and vetted installers.

Jeremy says feedback from CPA members shows an increase in business as a result of the improve not move trend and that its members are reaping additional rewards for choosing the CPA as their IBG supplier

He comments: “Homeowners are more likely to choose, and recommend, trusted, accredited tradesmen, which is why CPA members have such successful conversion rates when it comes to new customers.

“This combined with our sales information and support means installers have everything they need to close the sale with CPA.”

For more information, please call 01462 850064 or visit www.thecpa.co.uk

The Genesis VS fully mechanical concept was conceived to meet the needs of the largely untouched heritage market previously dominated by timber windows. The success since it was first introduced has given Bison’s sales an unprecedented boost and shown the industry that the Genesis concept and attention to detail has become the benchmark.

One of the biggest changes in the VS market is the growing acceptance of PVC-u for use in conservation areas and in some cases Grade II listed properties. The level of acceptance Genesis has achieved amongst planning officers is hardly surprising because the first thing that strikes you is just how authentic it looks – an area where the Genesis VS has blazed a trail as a true alternative to timber.   The Genesis VS window is also attracting more and more attention in the new build, self-build and general retail markets for use in modern and contemporary homes too.

The Genesis VS difference is clear to see. It uses traditional timber jointing methods on the frame and sash, complemented with other carefully-considered touches of authenticity including elegant high security Acorn cam locks, sash buttons and other complementary hardware. It has a deep bottom sash rail, run-through sash horns and colour coordinated pile seals as standard.  Genesis is available in a full range of contemporary colours, heritage colours and woodgrain foil finishes.

When you combine the looks of a traditional timber sliding sash with the practical energy-efficient benefits of PVC-u, you have an unbeatable combination.

www.bisonframes.com

Image Above: Des Turnbull, VBH Area Sales Manager and Terry Richardson TWR’s Managing Director

Trade fabricator TWR Trade Frames is enjoying huge success with aluminium bi-fold doors and regularly produces over 50 per week in their 25,000 sq. ft. factory in Peterlee. They have a nationwide customer network and regularly deliver to installers from as far afield as Scotland, Wales and the south of England.

The product formed a major part of TWR’s recent Open Day presentations and has been so successful that the Peterlee factory was opened last year to cope with increased aluminium production numbers, having outgrown capacity at the existing factory in nearby Sunderland.

The bi-folds are produced from Smarts Visofold profile and are geared using the greenteQ Clearspan hardware system from VBH that includes adjustable roller assemblies to help with quick and easy installation. The profile is powder coated on site to the customer’s individual specification and is then geared using Clearspan hardware in black, white or anthracite grey, with additional colour options on the handles.

The doors are secured using greenteQ main door and intermediate sash locking systems.

Clearspan hardware has been tested at BSI to the PAS 24 security standard. Those installers who deal with the new build market must be able to demonstrate to Building Control that their doors meet the requirements of approved Document Q. TWR are able to supply 3rd party certification from BSI that this is the case with their Clearspan ‘PAS 24 Spec’ bi-fold doors

TWR’s Managing Director Terry Richardson was presented with a certificate to mark TWR’s commitment to produce bi-fold doors to the Clearspan BSI ‘PAS 24 spec’.

VBH Area Sales Manager Des Turnbull is delighted to have TWR as a customer; ‘The management at TWR is forward thinking and customer driven. I was amazed to see from my records recently that they have manufactured over 3500 bi-folds since starting with greenteQ. I saw for myself at their open day in March how they interact with their customers and it’s obvious that their combination of great customer service and top notch products is the perfect formula for repeat business.’

To find out more about TWR’s bi-folds call them direct on 0191 565 2200 or contact VBH on 01634 263300 for further information on greenteQ Clearspan hardware.