Conservatory Outlet Blog

Are you fed up of manufacturing, or struggling with your existing trade frame supplier?

Well, we want to talk to you!

We’re one of the fastest growing fabricators in the UK, supplying a network of quality installation companies throughout the North of England.  We manufacture Synseal Synerjy frames, Edgetech Sealed units, and supply Shield roofs and Global Composite Doors.

We can help your business with offering targetted marketing support, from help and advice on websites, point of sale literature, and general business advice.

And we’re highly competitive!

So why not give me a call on 01924 239813 or email me at matthew@conservatoryoutlet.co.uk.

For more information please visit our consumer website www.conservatoryoutlet.co.uk or our trade site www.outletdealers.co.uk.

Conservatory and Double Glazing industry picks up

The word on the street is that sales levels are up!

It was a very poor start to the year for many fabricators and installers, mainly due to pretty poor sales in November and December. There were obviously a lot of casualties with Zenith / Staybright, Shepley Window Systems, Budget Windows, Pennine Windows, and My Planet just a handful of those going bust!  And more recently Plastmo have got themselves into trouble.

Our conservatory manufacturing business was well down in January compared to the year before, but February was pretty good, and March was a record month. In fact, we’re 15% up on this time last year, which certainly bucks the trend.

Our conservatory installation company also had a very average January, but February has been one of the best months on record, mainly due to an effective TV campaign we have been running.  There is a £100,000 TV campaign for Conservatory Outlet booked for this month, with coverage on Yorkshire TV and Granada.

A number of our trade conservatory companies are also getting busier after the slow start. I’m not sure what has changed - whether it’s better weather, lower interest rates, or just that we’re excellent at selling conservatories and double glazing.

If you are interested in becoming a Conservatory Outlet dealer, and think you could benefit from all the marketing we offer, please contact matthew@conservatoryoutlet.co.uk.

Edgetech VAT campaign for double glazing

Mark Warren from Lister Trade Frames sent the following letter to the Glazine about the Edgetech VAT campaign:

I was pleased to read last week that The Gl@zine and Edgetech have reinvigorated the VAT campaign. Last year with the number 10 petition and template MP letters, the campaign made real headway. But so much of our industry is apathetic. Companies sit back and wait to see how they will be affected by legislation or new innovations, but that’s the attitude of a victim! And that attitude is one of the reasons we continue to hear of companies struggling and even becoming casualties.

I believe that virtually everyone in the industry supports the campaign, but apathy is the problem. For that reason, it’ll probably never happen!

For more information about Conservatory Outlet please visit www.conservatoryoutlet.co.uk

James Clarkson’s Account - new boy at Conservatory Outlet:

 As the “new boy” in the double glazing industry (4 months in, lifetime to go) I’ve noticed a few things!

Firstly, the fact that someone like myself, no previous knowledge of the PVCu industry is hard to come by as it seems once you’re in you’re in. And you may pass from ship to ship but that’s it; New blood is unheard of.

So trying to compete against years of experience may seem hard but in the Conservatories / Window Industry, I think a pro-active approach coupled with fresh ideas and a willingness to learn and succeed are core to the latter.

Obviously the experience and knowledge will come but if you don’t have that foundation there, then the chance of having your name recognised in this business is slim to none.

Take West Yorkshire Windows, for example, a company that started with little knowledge and a sum of £200 pounds in the bank, and armed with a tape measure in the back pocket. They have proven that drive, hard work and ambition to succeed, is all you need. Not just in the double glazing industry, but that formula relates to anything, “put the effort in and thou shall be rewarded” if not a commandment then bloody common sense!

So West Yorkshire Windows and Conservatory Outlet is today one of the market leaders in the north of England. So that itself is proof for myself and the other “new boys” that we can, and will, succeed in an ever changing and problematic industry.

All it takes is to stand up and be recognised. Watch this space!!!

Conservatory Outlet specialises in manufacturing bespoke uPVC conservatories, windows, doors and double glazing products.  We supply a network of quality conservatory companies in the UK, each with the same great product, service and quality.

The advantage of dealing with Conservatory Outlet is that you get the best service possible from one of our local installers, but with the backing of one of the UK’s leading manufacturers.

Each Conservatory Outlet dealer offers a full range of uPVC products, which includes conservatories, porches, casement windows, sash windows, residential doors, French Doors, Patio Doors, composite doors, Bi-Folding doors and uPVC roofline.

West Yorkshire Windows have recently been running a highly successful TV advert on Yorkshire TV, encouraging consumers down to their conservatory showroom in Wakefield.

The advert has been so successful that a similar ad is now being planned for April, which will include all the Conservatory Outlet dealers in Yorkshire.  The script will be as follows:

Hi, I’m Andrew from Conservatory Outlet.  I’d like to invite you down to one of our Conservatory showrooms in Harrogate, York, Mirfield, Dinnington and Wakefield.

We have some fantastic deals on at the moment including:

3 year interest free credit

or

Buy now pay nothing for 12 months

Or if you order your conservatory before the end of the month, I’ll give you a free Laminate floor, if it’s windows and doors, I’ll give you free fitting worth up to £600.

But you better be quick ‘cos these deals can’t last forever!

Also, a similar advert will run on Granada TV with similar special offers, and directing people to the conservatory showrooms in Lancashire and Cheshire.

Conservatory Outlet are probably the largest installers of uPVC conservatories in the North of England.  We’ve always been strong in the Yorkshire region, but with the recent opening of two further showrooms in the North West of England.

Our dealer network now consists of showrooms in the following locations:

• York, North Yorkshire - Orion Windows
• Harrogate, North Yorkshire - Orion Windows
• Wakefield, West Yorkshire - West Yorkshire Windows
• Mirfield, West Yorkshire - Visual Effect
• Sheffield, South Yorkshire - Prime Window Systems
• Barrow-In-Furness, Cumbria - Evalast Windows
• Queensferry, Deeside - Conservatory Outlet North Wales
• Leyland, Lancashire - Lancashire Conservatory Outlet
• Holmes Chapel, Cheshire - Cheshire Conservatory Outlet

We’re now looking for Conservatory Outlet dealers from the Midlands to join our expanding network.

We’re looking for great conservatory companies who are already strong in their local area, who are looking for that extra support from their supplier that will help bring added business.

Conservatory Outlet has just launched a new range of bi-folding doors that includes 10 different options from 3 to 7 sashes and a variety of opening and colour options.

Bi-folding doors are becoming increasingly popular thanks to their versatility both in the residential and commercial markets along with the development of improved hardware. Where there are large openings or when installers/homeowners are looking for an alternative to a traditional patio door these new bi-folding ones provide the perfect solution. The latest range of high security hardware is included as standard in the new range and the combination of high precision bearings and a robust running rail result in a smooth and quiet operation.

Size specifications include a maximum finished of height of 2500mm; sash sizes of 500-900mm and overall size dimensions of 1500-5900mm. These bi-folding doors are also available in a full range of colours including white, mahogany, mahogany on white, rosewood, rosewood on white, light oak and light oak on white.

Mick Giscombe, head of production at Conservatory Outlet comments: “We’ve spent a considerable amount of time developing this product range to ensure that it represents the widest choice available without any sacrifice in product quality or performance. These new bi-folding doors add to our existing range of windows, French doors, patio doors, residential doors, composite doors, stable doors, conservatory roofs and complete conservatories. If it needs glazing, we make it!”

Following the successful opening of Conservatory Outlet Lancashire and Conservatory Outlet Cheshire, the company has now added another dealer in Deeside North Wales as it looks to build its Northern regional base and expand into the Midlands.

Operating from its Deeside base this new dealer will be offering windows, doors and conservatories to homeowners from Colwyn Bay across to Chester. With nearly 30 years’ experience in the industry, owners Richard Holloway and Ann Holloway have built a reputation for meeting the most exacting customer needs. Yet for them the opportunity to harness the Conservatory Outlet brand was one too good to miss.

Richard Holloway commented: “This was a measured business decision to become part of the dealer programme. It was important that there values shared ours and we really feel part of a very tight knit network. We have our own geographical area in which to operate so we can focus on our business and delivering the very best products to the consumer.”

Matthew Glover, managing director of Conservatory Outlet echoed Richard’s comments: “We are careful who we introduce to the dealership programme, as we all trade off the name of Conservatory Outlet. We have set high standards for the dealer programme and this means we are able to benefit from their local expertise.”

Think you could be the next Conservatory Outlet, particularly in the Midlands area then contact Matthew Glover today in confidence on 01924 239813 or email matthew@conservatoryoutlet.co.uk . You could benefit from a rapidly growing brand and combine it with your own local expertise, making your good business a great one.

This is the first post for Conservatory Outlet’s new blog.

This blog will be for staff, conservatory outlet dealers and customers to discuss matters of importance to them - conservatories, windows and doors.

 To access the main Conservatory Outlet website please click on the link.