Navigating a challenging market

Ben Brocklesby, director at Origin

At Origin, we intend on creating demand and stability in 2023. The challenges of last year, including a fluctuating economy caused by changing Governments, have greatly impacted the housing market.

With mortgage rates soaring, many are shelving their plans to move whilst others are reassessing their ability to renovate as the cost of living continues to rise.

Despite this, we know that homeowners view their homes differently now than how they did pre-pandemic. They understand the impact a home can have on their mental and physical health like never before.

So, whilst there might be a shift in priorities for homeowners, we still expect to see them enhancing their properties in 2023. To do this, they will be looking for value. That doesn’t just mean cost, but lifestyle and long-term value too.

At Origin, our priority is always our partners, ensuring they have all the tools in their arsenal to make that all-important sale when talking to a new customer. Products play a huge role in this. The Origin Home Range is industry-leading and award-winning, yet to maintain this position, we are constantly adding to and updating our portfolio.

For example, our latest product launch, the OI-30 internal door, was extended in January to now be available in all 150 plus RAL colours. Alongside this, our in-house R&D department is working hard to design the next generation of Origin products that will meet and exceed the Future Homes Standard (2025) whilst ensuring they maintain the sleek aesthetic that homeowners love us for.

But offering an industry-leading product range isn’t the only way we ensure our partners stand out from the rest. Over the past 20 years, Origin has built a reputation for offering a gold standard of service.

This means that our partners have exclusive access to our innovative ordering and quoting software, Origin Sale Safe (OSS). This allows partners to quote entire projects and share it with the customer in just five minutes.

In 2023, OSS will benefit from significant upgrades. Part of these upgrades means that partners will be able to add their margins onto the cost of a project, saving them valuable admin time so they can focus more on new business. This level of accuracy and efficiency gives our partners the edge over their competition.

Alongside an easy ordering process, at Origin, we pride ourselves on our seamless delivery. We work to our partner’s lead times, not our own. Popular products can be delivered within as little as 24 hours, or partners tell us their install date, and we ensure their order arrives at the site the day they need it.

We can ensure this because we take care of everything in-house, with none of our processes outsourced. Origin products are made bespoke at our factory in High Wycombe and delivery is handled by our team of dedicated drivers. This approach means that our partners will never be let down by long lead times, allowing them to effectively manage their diaries and take on last-minute jobs when a homeowner has been let down by another installer or manufacturer.

Whilst 2023 will present its challenges to the fenestration industry, we’re optimistic that we will find our way through. After all, we’ve been managing one problem or another since the beginning of Brexit and we’re still here.

Our priority will be supporting our partners businesses and helping them continue to find success through fluctuations in the market. Our approach to service means that partners will continue to have the tools they need to make a sale. We will continue to add to our service offering and upgrade our products to maintain this support to demonstrate real value to partners and homeowners.