And the brakes are off

Glass Times editor Nathan Bushell argues that we all need to draw up our own road maps to success, and they should all converge on the FIT Show.

So, the prime minister has published his ‘one-way’ road map out of lockdown which, on balance, received favourable reviews.

The main criticism is that it may be too timid, but I don’t think that is a concern for our industry.

What has impressed me most of all this year has been the ease with which glass and glazing companies have adapted to the restrictions imposed in response to the pandemic, to the point where we shouldn’t concern ourselves with the dates published by the government on Monday.
The obvious impact will be the return of customers to showrooms, and of salespeople to homes. But even then – as I’ve referred to over the last couple of weeks – many companies have adapted well to remote selling.

However, there is one date that we should have in our sights, and that is September 26, when the FIT Show opens at the NEC in Birmingham.

Glass Times has booked a stand (N16, since you ask) and we are sponsoring the FIT Show Bar as we have done previously.

Primarily, companies will be bursting at the seams with new products and services and, following on from a bright and positive summer, with bumper order books and glowing reviews on social media, we’ll all be interested the next developments that will drive the industry’s growth into 2022.

And we’ll also want that drink with friends who we won’t have seen for the best part of two years.

In fact, FIT Show has already responded to the government’s measures.

“While we have all learned that we cannot take any new measures for granted, and that the timeline is ‘contingent on data and not dates’, the roadmap that has been presented appears to be both cautious and realistic,” FIT Show event director Nickie West said. “It provides a solid and positive timeline for everyone to work towards.

“I believe that the roadmap presents even more reasons for prospective FIT Show exhibitors to book with confidence. The fact that we are working towards an end date of June 21 is a welcome milestone, providing a solid three months between things returning to ‘normal’ and FIT Show opening on September 26.

“Veka, Haffner, Kubu, Kommerling, Renson, Smart Ready, Cortizo, Korniche, Exlabesa, Camden Group and Hormann are just a few of the brands who have thrown their weight behind our new September dates.

“From a visitor’s perspective, people can register to attend FIT Show with the confidence that restrictions around large gatherings and social distancing should have been completely lifted, while hopefully having been vaccinated in line with the government’s July target.”

Yes, the industry has responded well to remote working. But we could all do with meeting up and doing business the old-fashioned face-to-face way. See you on Glass Times’s bar.