Software and Marketing Articles
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By Richard Bate, technical director of Build Check. The events of the last couple of years – including the coronavirus pandemic, the US trade wars with China, and Brexit, just to name a few – have given many of us food for thought with regard to the sourcing of finished products, component parts and raw materials. Many factors inevitably inform our...
By Adrian Toon, director of a2n. ‘Make it pop’ is a term used when I moved over to digital processing, to make the image stand out against the rest. For some of us old enough to remember the old Kodachrome 25 slide film, we used to enjoy the rich greens and deep reds that this film provided, and the images...
Andrew Scott, managing director of Purplex, explains why it’s time for the industry to build again. With Covid restrictions being lifted, and most adults to be vaccinated by April, the government and UK business leaders are now turning their attention to economic recovery. Jes Staley, CEO of Barclays Bank, recently compared the current situation to that of the roaring 20s,...
FIT Show event director Nickie West was one of the first to voice her support for the government’s roadmap to recovery. With much of the country well on its way to being vaccinated, and one of the biggest obstacles in the fenestration industry’s recovery being streamlining the supply chain to meet demand, we ask Nickie why FIT Show 2021 should...
Russell Hand, head of product management and technical, discusses how the Connect platform is becoming a fundamental part of growing fabricator and installers’ businesses. The events of 2020 have accelerated many modern trends; for example, daily life has long been nigh-on-impossible without a smartphone in hand, and the pandemic has accelerated this trend. In fact, TeleGeography reported that Europe’s international...
Christopher Brinsden, founder and CEO of Tommy Trinder asks if you are Closer, Sender, or Processor. From discussions with more than 350 installation companies, Tommy Trinder has identified three main approaches to how installers quote and sell Here, we discuss each of them. Closer. The 1980’s stereotype of the double-glazing salesman, delivering a price then wearing the customer down with...
Louise Findlay-Wilson, managing director of Energy PR, discusses what it takes to have a loved home improvement brand. Love for a home improvement brand has a massive impact on customer loyalty and recommendations according to a new study. People who love a brand are three times more likely to recommend it to others and will tolerate it making twice as...
By Richard Bate, Build Check. In our previous columns we have covered PAS24 in terms of scope, requirements and testing; we considered PAS24 as a means to meeting a client specification and a potential marketing advantage; and we looked at testing preparations, processes and procedures, and how to get the greatest benefit from your testing programme. We should not forget,...
Andy Ball, MD at Balls2 Marketing, says training is vital for making sure we offer clients the best service and the most up-to-date advice. 2021 marks the ten-year anniversary of Balls2 Marketing. We’ve been reflecting on the growth in sales and profits for customers and the success and growth of the agency over the last decade. One thing that was...
By Adrian Toon, director of a2n. When we look at cameras, we generally look to see what the zoom capability is on the provided lens, often using it to judge a camera, be it on a phone or a stand-alone camera. There are a number of cameras out there with some excellent credentials, but with debatable quality issues at these...
On January 5, 2021, the whole of the UK found itself in lockdown once again. At the time of writing, building and installation work was still permitted, but showrooms remained closed to all but repair businesses. Therefore, Ultraframe helped it customers embrace remote selling. Marketing director Alex Hewitt explains. After almost a year of the UK being in various stages...
By Liniar’s Simone Sangha. This month I'm focusing on customer experience and how website optimisation can improve customer satisfaction, loyalty, return on investment (ROI) and much more. When it comes to a customer’s experience of your brand, a big part of what they see is online. That’s why it’s vital to ensure that your digital presence is always optimised. I...
Andrew Scott, managing director of Purplex, discusses the five shifts that will impact the glass and glazing industry in 2021. Not surprisingly, the UK economy suffered its worst-ever slump in 2020. Entire industries, such as hospitality and travel, were devastated, while online retailers Boohoo and Asos carved up the high street as established giants toppled like dominos. The last 12 months have seen the greatest shift...
Launched just over one year ago, Framepoint from Tommy Trinder is already the go-to ap for more than 750 window and door professionals. Glass Times talks to founder and CEO Chris Brunsdon about how Framepoint is different from software that has gone before. “Call me sad, but I’ve always loved selling windows,” Chris said. “27 years in the industry, and...
By Liniar’s Simone Sangha. The Covid pandemic upended how businesses operate, including the way marketers target consumers. We’ve seen those who have put time into planning and strategising are much better than those who failed to do so. During the whirlwind of 2020, customer habits have inevitably evolved with a particular focus on time spent online. With this, marketers have...
Jon Vanstone, chair of Certass Trade Association, talks about the value of preparation and what we can learn from 2020 At the start of 2020 we talked about what is coming over the horizon and our need to ensure that our industry is ready to respond. This year is no exception, with the review of Future Home Standards for existing...
Installers have been busier than ever this year, but have they been profitable? Glass Times talks to Business Pilot to find out. Figures published by Business Pilot in its monthly barometer show that June and July were peak months for the window and door industry: leads rocketed 70% June on May, and a staggering 453% on April; while sales were...
Peter Wheeler, managing director at retail installer SEH BAC, says customer care is the number one priority, and AdminBase has enabled it to achieve its goals. Having been in an operations management role for over 24 years in the double-glazing industry I have witnessed a real step change in the customer’s priorities. It’s no longer all about having good products...
By Chris Ashton, Time54 Marketing. At a time where companies are undertaking cost-cutting exercises to secure their short-term survival, it is difficult to think about the long-term outlook. There’s uncertainty in the air and sales will take a hit. A decrease in construction contracts is forecast, there’s reduced output and a lower demand are factors that are forcing businesses to...
With more people migrating online due to the uncertainty around Covid-19, Andy Royle, co-founder and director of Leads2Trade, says his customers are benefiting. Since returning in July after temporarily shutting down operations due to coronavirus, Leads 2 Trade is generating huge volumes of leads for double glazing, conservatories, conservatory roofs and orangeries, and is looking to take on more reputable...