CONSERVATORY OUTLET SHARES BEST PRACTICE

Wakefield based fabricator Conservatory Outlet has launched an enhanced programme of events for 2017, equipping each of its network retail partners with new information, experiences, ideas and PR opportunities.

This year holds in store an event schedule far bigger than ever before for the Conservatory Outlet network, with a variety of different activities and events included, such as attendance at the FIT Show Gala Dinner 2017, an exclusive Golf Day, British 3 Peaks Charity Challenge and the annual October Networking Gala Dinner.

2017 will also mark the first year to include planned strategic events for marketing, sales, and operations, where individuals within similar roles from across the UK-wide network will come together to share best practice, tips and experiences with their peers.

Due to the unique business model of Conservatory Outlet, which offers an exclusive trading area to each of its retail partners, this enhanced event plan enables the network to grow by getting likeminded businesses together, and learning from each other without the pressures of conflict of interest.

Conservatory Outlet’s Business Development Director Andy Miller said: “At Conservatory Outlet we aim to offer a true support network to our partners rather than just the products we manufacture, and the benefits of getting together to share ideas really are second to none.

“We kick-started this year’s busy event programme off with our network wide operations meeting back in January, and the experience proved invaluable for all.

“The events we have planned this year not only facilitate the sharing of best practice but also help each company to improve. There are some great opportunities for each of our partners to get involved with, which will undoubtedly take our Network to the next level of growth.”

Green Building Store has just launched a triple glazed timber Lift & Slide door which, thanks to partnering with CENSolutions and ER Certification for certification, combines  PAS 24:2016 – Secured by Design and Part Q compliance with the highest Class 4 level airtightness standards.

The Lift & Slide door has been developed by Green Building Store to help fill a gap in the UK marketplace and to give UK designers’ greater flexibility and options on low energy projects.  Chris Herring, Director of Green Building Store, commented: “Lift and Slide Doors frequently present a challenge in terms of achieving airtightness and high security levels. We’re delighted to have overcome these issues and have developed a Lift and Slide Door that meets exacting security and airtightness standards.  We will also be launching a Passivhaus version of the Lift & Slide door later in 2017.”

Wayne Rogerson, Joint Managing Director of CENSolutions comments: “The new Lift & Slide door from Green Building Store is a fantastic product and one which is now fully certified to PAS 24:2016 and Secured by Design.  We’ve been working closely with Chris and the team at Green Building Store for several years and find them to be a great company to deal with and their environmentally friendly working practises highly commendable.  They are experts in the field of energy efficiency and low energy design. We have no doubt the Lift & Slide Door will prove a great success.”

For more information on the Lift & Slide Door log on to www.greenbuildingstore.co.uk

For more information on CENSolutions, call us today on 01785 716625, visit www.censolutions.com

Picture above: Emma Moorcroft & Mat Gibson of Chase Taylor Recruitment

With the FIT Show 2017 opening its doors in a little over two months, now is the time for visitors to plan on getting the best out of their time at the event.

The FIT Show, which takes place at the NEC in Birmingham 23-25th May, is the only exhibition where those involved in the production and distribution of products, components and services for the manufacture and installation of windows, doors and conservatories can meet the people and the companies that sell, fabricate and install them.

Visitors will have the opportunity to get up to speed on a range of new products and industry developments by visiting the stands of around 300 exhibitors, while a range of seminars will focus on the key issues facing the sector.

But a visit to FIT 2017 is more than just about seeing great products and hearing experts talk about sector topics; companies like recruitment specialists Chase Taylor Recruitment Ltd (stand G21) will be on hand to greet and assist existing and new clients with things like free career health checks, recruitment solutions and CV advice.

Having undergone rapid growth in recent months the firm will be sending an even larger team to the show in order to deal with visitor enquiries in this crucial part of any companies’ game plan.

FIT Show Event Director Nickie West says the 2017 event is gearing up to be the greatest yet: “The presence of companies like Chase Taylor mean the show will cover ‘all bases’ for those working in and around the industry.

“We’ve got close to 200 exhibitors coming to this year’s show and with the quality of exhibitors and seminars higher than ever, and with more visitors anticipated than ever before, it’s sure to be the best FIT Show to date.”

Last year’s FIT Show attracted more than 8,500 visitors, a rise of 45% on 2014, and this year is on track to do even better.

Taking place 23-25th May 2017, to book a stand at FIT Show 2017 please contact Freya Humphries on: 07572 623457, or email: freya@fitshow.co.uk. To register as a visitor for FIT Show 2017 visit: www.livebuzzreg.co.uk/2017/fit17

Image Above: Mike Davis, MD (left) and Jerry Webb, Group Chairman (right)

Prime Minister Theresa May recently confirmed High Speed 2 (HS2), a high-speed railway in the UK linking London, Birmingham, the East Midlands, Leeds, Sheffield and Manchester, will go ahead.

HS2 would be the second high-speed rail link in Britain after High Speed 1, which connects London to the Channel Tunnel, and is due for completion in 2033.

A report by KPMG says the new rail project could boost the UK economy by £15bn a year and will create 22,000 construction jobs in the next five years.

Mike Davis, Managing Director of specialist aluminium fabricator CDW Systems, says new commercial and residential projects on, and around the rail line, could provide a big boost to the aluminium sector.

He comments: “HS2 is set to provide a big boost for the aluminium sector as specifiers on projects around the rail-line look to aluminium as the material of choice. We’ve already received feedback from customers who are being asked for quotes on commercial and residential projects, linked to the development.”

Whilst Mike praises the government’s investment in HS2, he questions why it doesn’t invest in other big infrastructure projects, while interest rates are low.

He comments: “Base interest rates are at an all-time low of 0.25% and have been around this mark for the past five years, meaning that this period would be the perfect time for government to borrow money for more big infrastructure projects. Cuts have been made to investments in schools and hospitals but not why invest in these sectors and create jobs and supply side benefits?”

For more information call 01452 414853 or visit www.cdwsystems.co.uk

Picture above: Adi Day, Digital Director

Purplex Marketing has strengthened its relationship with Google to help companies in the construction and glazing industry generate more leads online. The agency is a certified Google Partner agency and provides specialist paid search (PPC), display network and social media marketing for trade, commercial and retail suppliers.

Adi Day, Digital Director at Purplex commented; “We now manage over £1million a year of PPC advertising spend, so working directly with the Google HQ team in London helps us gain maximum results for our clients.”

Purplex has also expanded its social media advertising reach, particularly through Facebook. Adi explains; “Having a strong social media presence is now crucial to a brand’s success. We already manage the social media strategy for many companies across the window industry, but dedicated paid-for advertising across channels such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn generates tens of thousands of additional impressions and a significant volume of sales leads.”

Purplex digital specialists work closely with a dedicated Facebook account manager to help advertisers build highly targeted campaigns based on in-depth data from Facebook users. And with over 50% of the UK population using Facebook every day mainly on their mobile phone, it enables advertisers to engage with new customers wherever they are. It isn’t just restricted to consumers either – targeting business contacts when they are outside ‘work mode’ can significantly increase response rates.

Purplex use both offer-led and content-led campaigns – such as video, case studies, white-papers and infographics – depending on the campaign objectives.

Adi continues; “Digital marketing requires highly specialist skills and using an agency with the experience and resources is essential. We are currently generating millions of website and social media impressions and over 10,000 sales leads a month. “

For more information visit www.purplexmarketing.com or call 01934 808132

She handles glass, she’s innovative, she’s brand new and she’s automatic… it’s Gina!

Double R Glass & Roofing Systems has opened its doors to showcase what it claims is the fastest vertical IGU Super Spacer Automatic Hot Melt line in the world and the first of its kind to be installed in the UK.

The open house event, held at the company’s premises in Wellingborough, offered customers and prospects the opportunity to see the new machine, dubbed ‘Gina’ (because it handles glass, it’s innovative, it’s brand new and it’s automatic’), in action.

Designed and installed in collaboration with the Promac Group and its Italian partner, For.El, to Double R’s exact specifications, the made to measure machine has reportedly increased Double R’s production from around 600 units per shift, to approximately 1,200, with room for a further increase in capacity.

Managing director of Double R, Ian Sims, said: “We’re extremely proud of the circa £1m investment we made into this For.El machine and the amount of quality units it allows us to produce on a daily basis, so we had no qualms in opening our doors to anyone who wanted to come and see it in action. It really is a sight to behold with high quality IGUs being produced at record speed. We believe this is the future of Double R but also the future of IGU production.

“Visitors to our factory also received a tour of the rest of our premises including our impressive and experienced decorative department and the extensive range of glass and solid roofs produced in our dedicated roof unit. They also had the chance to chat with our suppliers, with whom we work extremely closely to ensure we deliver on customers’ expectations on a consistent basis. The suppliers supporting us on the day were Edgetech, Bostik, Promac, CENSolutions, ER Certification and Clear Thinking Software.

“Congratulations to Three Shires and CRK Windows who won the two prize draws held across the event.

“Although our Open House ran for two days, we are so proud of Double R and our offering that we are happy to welcome fabricators and installers to our premises at any time. Anyone that wants to arrange a time to visit can call us on 01933 443658 to make an appointment.”

www.glassandroofs.com

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Image Above: Epwin Window Systems is celebrating the launch of its Excellence as Standard installer scheme at the FIT Show by sponsoring this years Master Fitter Challenge

Epwin Window Systems is celebrating the launch of the company’s Installer Support Scheme being rolled out at FIT Show by throwing its weight behind the event’s Master Fitter Challenge. The company is demonstrating its focus on working closer with installers by committing itself to sponsoring the Window Competition of the popular Master Fitter Challenge, in which 6 teams compete during the FIT Show to show their prowess at fitting fenestration products in front of a live audience.

With competitors working to install a bi-folding door, a residential door, a lantern roof and windows provided by Epwin Window Systems, pressure is compounded by the lure of total prize money of £10,000 but even more so, the desire to be the best.

“Putting our weight behind the Master Fitter Challenge and having our windows installed was the natural thing to do as we unveil our own plans at the FIT Show to support the people in the front line,” explained Gerald Allen, Epwin Window Systems marketing manager. “We place a great deal of emphasis on the quality of our windows and doors but actually so much depends upon the skills shown by installers. So this is our way of showing our commitment to raising standards at the sharp end. The Master Fitter Challenge is, in our view, a tremendous demonstration of the skills that can now be expected daily in our industry.”

Epwin Window Systems will be launching its own highly developed Installer Scheme at the FIT Show, with full details to be announced at the event.

www.epwin.co.uk

According to the latest sales figures from Deceuninck almost half of the company’s products are now foiled, due largely to the fact it holds 26 colourways in stock at all times.

“Colour is such a massive opportunity for fabricators and installers,” says Deceuninck’s Rob McGlennon, “but they’re often held back by systems companies at the top of the chain who are still struggling to get the supply of coloured products right. In 2016, 44% of the profile we sold – including matching foiled trims, ancillaries and cills – was foiled. We could deliver this because we’ve been supplying colour on a big scale for a long time and have invested heavily to ensure we continue to meet the increasing demand.

“We keep 26 colourways in stock to go on our fabricators’ next delivery. We understand that storage is an issue for a lot of fabricators which is why our products are available off the shelf as bar length. To ensure we can deliver on our colour-from-stock promise, we’ve recently invested more into our dedicated fully automated Foiling Hall. This gives us the extra capacity that we’re forecasting will be required over 2017 and allows us to keep feeding into our 140,000 ft2 purpose built warehouse, stocking over 2,500 colour units plus ancillaries, cills and trims.

“To offer further peace of mind to fabricators who may have been let down with the supply of colour in the past, we also have a dedicated online ordering system, Deceuninck-Online, which allows fabricators remote, real time access to the Calne warehouse. This means our fabricators can put their name on products we have in stock and know all these products will arrive in full on their next delivery. Once the online system has allocated the products to a customer, our fabricators know they can trust us to do the rest and deliver on time. This means our fabricators and their installer customers have the confidence to sell colour in a market that is crying out for just that.

“We see it as our responsibility as a systems supplier to give our fabricators everything they need to run a successful and profitable business. That means delivering on market demands, no matter what.”

Contact Carol Hearn on 01249 816969 to find out more about Deceuninck’s colour-from-stock promise.

Picture above: Mark Barsby, Accreditation Manager, The VEKA UK Group

Industry-leading PVC-U systems supplier, The VEKA UK Group, has been awarded membership once again of the national crime prevention initiative, Secured by Design (SBD), for both its VEKA and Halo brands.

The VEKA UK Group partnered with Secured by Design several years ago and has maintained its strong relationship with the team, thanks to a shared ethos of designing out crime at the product development stage.

Secured by Design was established in 1989 and works to reduce crime by bringing Police Forces, developers and planners together at the design stage to include security into the built environment, such as natural surveillance and landscaping, and by encouraging manufacturers of products, such as doors and windows, to attain SBD’s coveted ‘Police Preferred Specification’.

Mark Barsby, Accreditation Manager of The VEKA UK Group, explains: “’Designing out crime’ means that security features are incorporated within products during the design and development stage, rather than being an ‘add on’ to the finished product.

“VEKA and Halo have always taken this approach, with security, style and energy efficiency being primary concerns at the concept stage of a new product development. Our SBD ‘licence’ and display of the SBD logo helps us to illustrate to customers and specifiers our commitment to this initiative.

“Since Part Q of the Building Regulations came into effect in England in October 2015, we are seeing increasing relevance for enhanced security standards, particularly PAS 24. SBD plays a significant part in marking out those companies, like The VEKA UK Group, that go above and beyond when it comes to security.”

The SBD initiative cites some impressive results:

– SBD developments (those using products and materials that meet SBD Standards) are up to 75% less likely to be burgled and show a reduction of 25% in criminal damage compared to non-SBD sites.

– The additional cost of using SBD standards in the average home is only around £170.

– The Association of British Insurers has estimated that the introduction of SBD standards across the UK would bring more than £3.2 billion worth of savings to the economy over 20 years.

Mark added: “With Government White Papers on the housing market coming to the fore, and potential incentives emerging for the new build sector, we are very likely to see new housing developments in the near future – which will likely list an SBD requirement as part of the specification process.

“Security is a concern in any part of the country, but is perhaps at the forefront of more people’s minds in built-up and inner city areas. With government proposals encouraging ‘brownfield’ development sites, companies that carry the SBD licence are well placed to tender for such work. Here at The VEKA UK Group, we’re proud to demonstrate our continuing commitment to raising quality and improving security across the building, development and home improvement industries.”

SBD Development Officer Alfie Hosker was pleased to provide The VEKA UK Group with its renewed SBD licence: “They are a nationally recognised systems company and play a significant role in encouraging and working with fabricators to manufacture doors and windows to meet Police Preferred Specification standards in order to reduce crime and keep residents safe. I am delighted that they are continuing to work with us.”

www.vekauk.com

Goliath Homeworld – a founder member of pioneering installer support organisation, Network VEKA – is celebrating more than £5m in sales registered directly through the two organisations’ partnership.

Cannock-based Goliath, which celebrates its 30th anniversary in May, helped form Network VEKA in 1996. At that time, the home improvement industry was suffering from a stigma of unscrupulousness; the result of fly-by-night salespeople whose low standards, high prices and nonexistent after-sales support had particularly affected the double glazing trade.

Stephen Hancox, Managing Director at Goliath explains: “Network VEKA was conceived to help installers demonstrate that they uphold the highest standards; not just in using industry-leading systems from The VEKA UK Group, but also in their levels of service, installation and aftercare. That unbroken chain of quality – from extrusion to certification – is a USP in our industry that homeowners understand and value.

“I’ve sat on the Network VEKA steering group since day one, and when I see sales figures like these, not just for Goliath, but any member company achieving such results, I feel immensely proud of what we’ve accomplished over the last two decades.”

Of the more than £5m Goliath has registered in Network VEKA sales, an amazing £922k was posted in 2016 alone, with the company averaging customer satisfaction ratings of 99.2% over the course of the year.

“To qualify for the Network’s ten-year insurance-backed guarantee, customers must first complete a satisfaction form”, Stephen continues. “It gives the Network and its members a really clear picture of how they’re performing, alerting both parties to any issues. Only businesses that maintain the high standards required to become members are allowed to continue in the organisation.

“Throughout my years with Network VEKA, the organisation’s core values have always remained the same: to uphold professional integrity and credibility, and encourage members’ success through the customer confidence this creates. It’s the Network’s developments though, that have served to keep it at the cutting edge – both for current and prospective member companies, and homeowners. Recently the Network has focussed on raising awareness and winning trade directly from consumers, and I’ve no doubt this has contributed to Goliath’s remarkable sales figures.”

Karen Lund, Head of Partner Programmes for The VEKA UK Group commented: “Stephen and the Goliath team have been instrumental in the development of Network VEKA from the start. These figures further cement them as brilliant ambassadors for the organisation, and we congratulate them on this fantastic achievement, and thank them for their ongoing efforts. Well done!”

www.networkveka.co.uk