Apeer’s managing director, Asa McGillian, explains why it is more important than ever for installers to be able to trust their composite door suppliers to deliver high quality products and service.

At the start of this year, it was evident that 2026 was going to be another tough period for the industry and recent events overseas have done nothing to improve that situation.

Consumer confidence is down, costs are up – it’s a challenging place to be for all of us, including those installers who are now fighting to stay ahead in a shrinking, and more challenging marketplace.

This is why partnering with trustworthy suppliers has never been more important.

There are still strong opportunities for installers that can evidence outstanding products, including composite doors that deliver on security, style and energy efficiency.

That’s because homeowners are typically doing more research before committing to a purchase, they are prepared to invest and while price is always an important consideration, so is quality and service.

This means that installers need to be able to trust their composite supplier to deliver products that offer great value, doors that are engineered to makes homes warmer and safer while enhancing kerb appeal.

For installers that do not have the support of a trustworthy manufacturer and supplier like Apeer, if product quality is questionable, service is unreliable, if they constantly run the risk of remedial work then panic can set in – where the only way to win work is to compete on price. And as we all know, in the long run, that’s just not sustainable.

Consumers may even see through it, because as I’ve just highlighted, price is only part of the equation.

So, how do we earn the trust of our installer partners at Apeer?

Firstly, it’s by demonstrating a steadfast commitment to lean manufacturing and how that benefits our productivity – not just on the factory floor but across the organisation as a whole.

It’s an investment that has involved taking a close look at our processes, how we can reduce complexity, identify ways of reducing waste and then implement simpler, more efficient ways of doing things.

We’ve actually encouraged a ‘two second improvement’ from everyone in the business, a collaboration that’s designed to find small margins every day, in order to achieve big gains in the long run.

This allows us to further enhance our customer service but also to highlight the care, attention to detail and absolute focus on product quality.

As a result, we are better equipped to tackle the issue of price sensitivity. Instead of simply dropping the price and eroding margin, our installer partners are encouraged to add value instead. It means homeowner customers feel like they are getting more for their money and installers have the opportunity to nurture higher conversion rates and more profitable sales.

Of course, when it comes to evidencing trust, we are in an enviable position at Apeer because we have been in business for more than three decades! That longevity means we’ve accrued a wealth of quality standards over the years, including the Kitemark seal of approval from the BSI, and we’ve consistently shown that we are at the forefront of product development and innovation.

Crucially, we are also prepared to prove that the vast portfolio of composite doors we manufacture at Apeer – an offer that includes 44mm, 70mm and 120mm ranges – can perform as advertised, something that’s especially important when it comes to promoting U values.

We’ve invested a considerable amount of money and time into third party testing and we’re happy to make those independent test results available to anyone who would like to see them. They will, for example, back up our claims that all 62 designs in the Apeer 70mm door range meet and exceed requirements for new build and replacement.

They also reveal that some of our competitors are nowhere near the figures claimed for their own doors…
At Apeer, we continue to be laser focused on leading the way in composite door innovation, manufacturing, service and marketing for our installer network. We are determined to maintain the highest standards and the advantages they bring to our partners.

Can you trust your composite door supplier to do the same?