As installers demand certainty over sales patter, Shepley Windows’ managing director, Ian Griffiths, believes this is the year where operational excellence becomes the true differentiator in fabrication.
The biggest threat to installer profit this year is not rising costs or market uncertainty, but unreliable fabrication. We are entering a period where fabricators that deliver consistently will stand out clearly from those that can’t.
Installers will move quickly toward partners who protect their time and margins through performance, not price, and the shift is already well underway.
Being named Fabricator/Manufacturer of the Year at the 2025 National Fenestration Awards highlighted the precision, discipline and dependable delivery that have shaped the Shepley reputation. For me, it confirmed what our customers already tell us – that reliability is not a bonus, it is the thing that keeps their businesses moving.
The industry has reached a turning point where even small failures in supply chain performance now have far bigger consequences. Installers are judging fabricators on how well they keep jobs progressing on site, not how cheaply they can supply a frame, and the financial impact of inconsistency is still far too often overlooked.
An installer does not lose money because a frame costs a few pounds more. They lose money when a job grinds to a halt. Every delay, every quality issue and every missed delivery hits profitability straight away.
Cost of inconsistency
Throughout 2025, we focused investment on the areas that make the greatest difference to installers. Expanding our transport fleet was central to that. Increasing delivery capacity and strengthening our nationwide service have given installers more confidence in planning their workloads.
Our reputation has been built on being a fabricator that installers can truly rely on. Upgrades like these are not just operational decisions – they are commitments to giving customers the certainty they need to protect their profitability.
Skills investment is equally important. Working with Rehau and Building Our Skills, we supplied products to the new Installer Training Academy in Milton Keynes to support hands-on training and bring new talent into the sector. Stronger skills benefit everyone across the supply chain, particularly installers who rely on well-trained teams and consistent product knowledge.
These investments reflect a belief I have held for years – that operational discipline and service consistency are fundamental to meeting installer expectations and staying competitive.
For installers, the real measure of a fabricator’s value is how well their products and processes support day-to-day work on site.
Reliable lead times, accurate manufacturing and clear communication remove friction from the job and protect margins in ways that pricing alone never can.
Installers feel the difference when a fabricator communicates clearly, delivers when they say they will, and resolves issues quickly. And this is the stuff that won’t ever appear in a quote, but makes the biggest impact on profitability.
We are continually strengthening our processes behind the scenes, from quality control to how we communicate with customers. When these elements work together, installers can get on with what they do best – delivering a high standard of work for homeowners.
This year will sharpen the divide between fabricators who operate with real consistency, and those who fall short. Installers value dependable performance above anything else, and the pressures they face mean they cannot absorb avoidable delays or disruption. Fabricators can’t rely on loyalty if they don’t offer loyal service in return.
This year will show which fabricators are genuinely committed to supporting installers. Reliability now sits at the heart of profitability and supply chain stability, and it will be the foundation for sustainable growth in what is likely to be a demanding market. For me, the direction is clear. The fabricators who prioritise consistency, clear communication and disciplined operations will be the ones installers back, not the ones they tolerate.
