New year, new opportunities for installers

Tags: | Added: 05 January 2024

With external factors making for difficult times, acheiving success this year might feel challenging. As a fabricator partner, we are focused on how we can best support our installers and help them stand out in a fiercely competitive market.

Product choice

Having a range of products to choose from strongly appeals to today's increasingly discerning homeowners. Our comprehensive range covers the breadth of VEKA UK, Halo, The Residence Collection, and now the 2500 and 2800 system from Deceuninck.

By constantly evolving and adapting our already extensive portfolio, our installers have access to a range of colours, styles, and price points, all backed up with excellent u-values, Secured by Design accreditation, and our 10 year guarantee for a high-quality product.

For homeowners on the hunt for a new door, our DoorCo range is equally as impressive, and one we are adding to this year. Our composite offering is further bolstered by our decision to make Ultion Sweet standard on our doors, enabling our installers to win over customers looking for attractive hardware that combines aesthetics, durability and security.

Sweet Hardware Range

Added value solutions

Having lots of different products to offer your end customer is one thing; sharing that in the right way is another. Showcasing your business to potential customers is key and helping our installers increase brand awareness using marketing is an important part of our overall offering.

Our in-house marketing team works with installers in a range of ways, from sharing tips and ideas on how to maximise their marketing in their local market, to supporting with brochures, social media content, and the creation of a tailored website.

It's an offering we've calculated is worth more than £5,000 to those installers currently utilising it and this year we're continuing to invest heavily in resources and tools to further strengthen our marketing support packages.

Supportive suppliers

From products and extended warranties to marketing, our entire offering is designed to help our installers stand out from their competitors.

Working closely with our suppliers means we can continue to deliver a high-quality portfolio and ensure our products continue to hit the spot on the areas that matter to the end customer, from innovation and quality to sustainable materials.

One recent example is our collaboration with Brisant Secure to design and manufacture a patio handle that could seamlessly integrate with existing door furniture, while offering unparalleled weather resistance.

The joint development partnership resulted in the Sweet patio handle; the perfect example of how working together with a key supplier means we can meet the needs of our installers and their own customers.

Differentiated support

We tailor our support to suit each individual installer. That could mean technical advice for commercial installers on designs, regulations, and planning requirements to fabricating non-standard jobs, or reflecting changing end customer tastes and trends for those installers focusing on the residential market.

With conditions making it difficult to continue with in-house fabrication, one area we are increasingly supporting is helping fabricator-installer businesses to move to installer-only models. By advising on areas some businesses might not have resources in, such as HR, IT, and marketing, and becoming their fabricator of choice, we help make the transition a smooth process.

Whatever is on the horizon, we're here to support every type of installer, with a tailored approach that sets them apart and helps them stand out in their market.

Recent News

Partnering with Deceuninck to elevate our commercial offering

With plans to build its profile in the commercial space forming a key part of our strategy, we chose to partner with Deceuninck, starting manufacture of its dedicated commercial window system, the Deceuninck 2500 series earlier this year. Darren Rhodes, Managing Director, North explained why we chose this partnership. “We saw Deceuninck as a strategic partner from the very beginning,” said Darren Rhodes, managing director, North, Glazerite. “Their strong capabilities and dedicated commercial department, which works closely with our sales and commercial team, made them an ideal fit. “The 2500 was recommended by Deceuninck, particularly for the commercial projects. We have traditionally used a chamfered product in that sector, so it fits very well with our strategy,” Darren continued. The Traditional 2500 system is designed for energy efficiency and security, making it ideal for commercial applications. It offers over 30 stock colour options and achieves U-Values as low as 0.86 W/m²K. The system is compatible with standard security hardware and meets the enhanced security standard PAS24 for both windows and doors. “The combination of the Traditional 2500’s core product performance with Deceuninck’s market leading colour options and a world-class OTIF of 98% forms a powerful proposition in the commercial space,” said Darren. “This ensures that clients benefit from high-performing, versatile products along with reliable and efficient delivery. “Technically, Deceuninck is very strong,” Darren added. “Our team had the opportunity to visit Deceuninck’s plants in both Belgium and the UK. This allowed us to gain valuable insights into its manufacturing processes and quality control measures.” “This firsthand experience underscored Deceuninck’s commitment to excellence and innovation. Its comprehensive product training programs for our customer care and technical teams have equipped us with the knowledge and skills needed to deliver exceptional service to our clients. “Additionally, Deceuninck’s advanced software for calculating U-values and energy ratings has been instrumental in ensuring that we can provide our customers with high-quality, energy-efficient products tailored to their specific needs.” At the end of 2023, Glazerite embarked on a significant project by announcing the establishment of a new manufacturing site in Barnsley. “We set ourselves a huge task when we announced our new manufacturing site in Barnsley at the end of last year,” recalled Darren. “The transformation of an empty shell into a fully functioning Deceuninck fabrication site in just 84 days was a remarkable achievement.” The site manufactures Deceuninck 2500 and 2800 casements, tilt and turn windows, as well as composite doors, residential and French doors. The North division is led by Darren and Darryl Count, office manager. “We introduced Deceuninck to our range in the summer last year to open up specification options for our installer partners to be able to compete in their markets,” Darren explained.

Glazerite appoints a new face to boost Scottish presence

We have appointed a new Area Sales Manager to bolster support for installers based in Scotland, where we already have a burgeoning customer base. Jordan Davidson has joined us in the newly created role of Area Sales Manager - Scotland to underpin the service we offer to existing customers based there. It follows the growth of our product portfolio, which now includes the Deceuninck profile system alongside its VEKA and Residence Collection offering, and the recent opening of our North Division in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Scotland-based Jordan has spent nearly a decade in the fenestration industry and will help us strengthen our positioning and the support we can offer installers situated north of the border. He says: “I am excited and grateful to be given the opportunity to join the team at Glazerite. As a fabricator, Glazerite offers installers a huge range of products and solutions designed to deliver first-class installations and grow their business. I am looking forward to meeting our existing customers and welcoming new ones in the near future.” Jeff Dunn, Group Sales & Commercial Director of Glazerite says: “It is our aim to strengthen our presence nationwide while continuing to deliver what our installers want and need – exceptional customer service and leading, high-quality products. “By welcoming Jordan to our sales team, we now have a local presence in a growing market. Jordan is key to the continuation of existing relationships with those of our installers based in Scotland and an opportunity for us to reach new customers in an important region.”

Committed to bringing premium, innovative, and stylish products to market

We've worked closely with The Residence Collection for more than a decade. Here, Glazerite Area Sales Manager Gio Sangiovanni and Sally Gingell, Area Sales Manager for The Residence Collection, share how our partnership helps deliver high-quality heritage styles and added value for installers. From our Specials Division in Wellingborough we craft high quality R9 and R7 Windows and doors with a Timberweld® joint. Over a series of recent visits and health checks from The Residence Collection team to our it's clear to see how our close collaboration to strive for the best quality benefits our installers. Sally reveals: “Our longstanding partnership with Glazerite is built on collaboration and feedback. We have monthly meetings with every department, from technical to purchasing, as well as regular catch ups with the sales team. As part of our relationship we also visit the manufacturing team and carry out a fabricator ‘health’ check to ensure that together we are striving for the highest quality products. Sally Gingell, Residence Collection, Sales Manager UK and Ireland “We were delighted as ever to see the high standards at work at Glazerite. The manufacturing is exceptional, and I can say with confidence the Timberweld® finish is of the highest quality, thanks to the commitment the team shows in the fabrication of The Residence Collection products.” Alongside R9, we fabricate R7 using Timberweld® as standard. In recognition of installer choice, R7 is also still offered as the mitre welded option. As demand for heritage products grows, so too does our flexibility and commitment to ensuring installers have access to products that can help them to win more business and deliver projects easily and efficiently. Giovanni explains: “We are always looking at ways to improve our fabrication to benefit our installers, which is why we chose to implement Timberweld® technology. By using this method of welding corners on uPVC to create an authentic timber butt joint effect, we can offer R9 unglazed, which makes transportation, fitting and handling easier for installers. This has led to a direct increase in the number of installers who are including R9 in their offering.” Gio adds: “It is Glazerite’s aim to be the best Residence Collection fabricator in the industry and as part of that, it is critical that we don’t rest on our laurels. We are continually investing and improving every aspect of our business and operations to deliver high quality products and customer service. Working closely with The Residence Collection is a key part of that, and we are delighted that our hard work has been recognised with this terrific feedback.” The relationship between fabricator and supplier has always been strong, with Glazerite an early adopter of the profile system. Sally explains: “We were so proud that such a large and truly respected fabricator such as Glazerite could see the potential in our product. Since then, our relationship has developed into one of mutual trust and support as both businesses work on the same ethos – building a teamwork approach, developing our people, and supporting customers with quality products.” Both Glazerite and The Residence Collection also value the importance of marketing and technical support. Each provides installers with distinct ways to showcase their offering, from The Residence Collection’s Find an Installer programme and marketing materials to Glazerite’s brochures, POS materials and social media content that installers can use to differentiate themselves from competitors. Meanwhile both businesses assist installers with technical support that can help support on planning applications in conservation areas. The future is looking bright for installers who offer heritage products. As authentically crafted timber alternatives, R9 and R7 offer consumers a range of thermal, acoustic and security benefits alongside durability and style. With R9 designed to meet Article 4 guidelines, The Residence Collection products are now routinely accepted in conversation areas across the UK. Whether you have Residence Collection already in your portfolio or looking to review your existing fabricator, with a question or query on the range let us know and Giovanni will pick up with you. View our Residence Collection Range.

	sales@glazerite.net
	(01933) 443222
	The Glazerite UK Group Ltd. 39-43 Rixon Court, Finedon Rd, Industrial Estate, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, NN8 4BA