Investing millions to power partner growth
Quickslide’s managing director, Ben Weber, explains how the fabricator’s multi-million-pound investments in production, combined with comprehensive marketing support, have enabled its trade partners to remain highly competitive in a challenging market.
In a market that is continuing to face considerable headwinds, we are acutely aware of the challenges currently facing the industry and the significant pressure that installers are under to grow their businesses.
In times like these, when consumer confidence is low, when price becomes more of a priority and margins are increasingly being squeezed to secure sales, it’s vitally important for installers to have a fabrication partner that can fully support them, to give them the confidence and tools to remain competitive.
At Quickslide, we are laser focused on delivering for our trade partners, a commitment that is underpinned by the significant, multi-million-pound investments we have made in our manufacturing facilities in recent years.
Since 2023, for example, the amount we have spent on infrastructure sits in the region of £2.7 million.
That included a £1.7 million outlay on a bespoke Schirmer machining centre to modernise the production of our market leading Legacy vertical slider. Designed specifically to our requirements, it was a major upgrade to our factory and included a parallel line dedicated to steel reinforcement, working in harmony with the Schirmer saw.
On top of that, we have continued with six figure investments into 2025, further enhancing the quality of our products and high levels of service to our customers.
At a time when we are seeing a lot of high-profile business failures and consolidation in the industry, it is important to highlight that we are in a position to re-invest so heavily because we are privately owned and have a long-term view.
Our trade partners should take assurance that from that – importantly, they should do so without worrying that just because we are spending so much money on improving product and service, we will somehow pass on the costs.
In fact, quite the opposite is true.
Our sash windows didn’t join the industry’s price hike parade earlier this year, a clear signal to our trade partners that we are doing everything we can to get behind them.
It is precisely because we have invested so heavily, to introduce a step-change in production efficiency while maintaining repeatable product quality, that we are able to do this.
Of course, state of the art automation is just one part of the equation. We have also vastly improved our software technology, with bar code scanning throughout the factory and in delivery.
As a result, our customers will soon be able to access live, up-to-the-minute order tracking be even more confident that their delivery will arrive ‘in full’, every time.
We’ve also worked very hard to expand our marketing support, beyond lead generation, with a package of initiatives that are designed empower our trade partners to go out and win sales.
This includes our ‘ultimate sales tool’ for Legacy, a portable presentation case that can be personalised with a company logo and which contains everything you need – including a 600mm x 900mm sample window – to wow homeowners.
We’ve also developed an online ‘Requirement Calculator’ to make it easier to understand the sometimes trickly building regulations. And for the Quick-Glide sliding/folding patio door – our stunning hybrid alternative to aluminium bi-folds and sliders – we’ve also introduced comprehensive marketing assets.
This includes in-depth product training, a digital product configurator that can be integrated into customer websites and which includes a lead gen and CRM system add-on.
The bottom line is that while all the above has enabled us to help our trade partners compete more keenly on price when required – crucially – it means that they also have the confidence to proactively win business on quality, product and service, thanks to the assurance that they are being supported at every stage.
So yes, times are tough. But with the right tools, and a partner that is deeply invested in your business, there are still opportunities for growth. That’s perfectly illustrated by our top performing customers, who have seen an average sales increase of 62%.
If you want to enjoy similar success, then please get in touch and we can talk about how Quickslide can help.