Reputation above all

Ben Brocklesby, director at Origin

The ongoing cost of living crisis has put the brakes on many aspects of our lives, from eating out to booking holidays.

Rising mortgage rates are further slowing down the housing market and rising energy bills are limiting homeowners’ renovation budgets. Despite this tightening of belts, a recent Origin survey suggests that 70% of homeowners still want to proceed with their home renovation plans.

This reflects a wider mindset shift in the perception of what we need from our homes that occurred during the pandemic. The increased time people spent at home, living and working, made them realise the effect their living environment has on their mental and physical health.

This has led many to reprioritise what is important to them, with their home circumstances now topping the list.

Consumers continuing to prioritise their homes is good news for those in the fenestration industry, many of whom may have previously feared work drying up. Yet, despite a willingness to invest, the research shows that homeowners are being more cautious with their money. In fact, 100% of those surveyed said a good brand reputation is what makes them more likely to make a purchase.

These key takeaways demonstrate that it is more important than ever for installers to work with great suppliers. Not only will a robust supplier ensure products arrive on time and in full, so projects stay on time and to budget, but they will also help mentor your business, offering marketing assistance and training, all of which is designed to improve and maintain a great brand reputation. It is more about brand experience now than it has ever been.

At Origin, supporting our partners is our top priority. Their business success is what drives our own, so it’s in our best interest to give our partners all they need to continue to make sales, especially during periods of market fluctuation.

Our gold standard of service starts with training, which includes product and installation information, and extends to support and advice on trends and data. This training package has been developed to support partners in reaching more customers and making those all-important sales.

With our data showing that 60% of homeowners care about interior trends, it’s important for installers to be aware of the latest trends in products, configurations, colours, etc. to advise homeowners on how to achieve their desired look no matter the property type.

Similarly, some homeowners will want to defy home trends and invest in something classic. So, as well as knowing what’s hot, installers need to know what stands the test of time. Homeowners looking for advice will want an installer they can trust, which is built on reputation.

As well as training, we add value to our partners businesses through our commitment to keeping things easy and simple. Our unique quoting and ordering system, Origin Sale Safe (OSS), makes pricing entire jobs, adjusting project specifications, and sharing with the client as easy as placing an Amazon order. Partners can soon also automatically add their margins to a quote, saving them valuable time on admin.

Beyond this, our partners always know that their products will arrive on-site when they’re needed. Our lead times are as little as 24 hours, and our in-house delivery teams ensure our partners’ orders are with them for the day of their installation.

This means they don’t lose out on time or money because of delays or missed deliveries, and it protects their business reputation, which is more important than ever for providing consumer confidence.

We know the UK economy is being challenged. Analysts are predicting a recession, although there are conflicting reports about how long or how bad a recession is likely to be. Yet despite this, homeowners aren’t deterred from improving their properties, based on our consumer insights.

However, it does mean they will be comparing offerings and opting to invest their money with people they trust more than ever, instead of buying on a whim. This highlights the importance of working with good suppliers and maintaining a good brand reputation.