I ask this question, because I certainly feel there’s a different feel in the air.
Virtually all of our Conservatory Outlet dealers had a very busy January, with lead levels far higher than was to be expected. At West Yorkshire Windows we’ve been sitting 80-90 leads per week, and are expecting February to be our best ever sales month. It’s almost like we are getting back to levels of 2004 and 2005.
In the factory also we’re taking extremely high levels of orders considering the time of year with January 17.3% up on last year.
And, we’ve been hiring extra sales staff in Wakefield, as are some of our dealers. In fact, if there’s any one reading this in the Bristol / Gloucester area looking for a sales job then one of our dealers – Greenway Home Improvements – is looking for a top quality sales person. Greenway are a very progressive company, and this could be a major opportunity for the right candidate.
So, it could just be that we are taking market share from our competitors with our forward thinking marketing strategy, but I feel there is definitely an overall upturn in the market for windows, doors, and even conservatories. It was tough at the back end of last year undoubtedly, but if things are improving we should be talking up the industry and its potential.
I’d be really interested to hear if your company is doing well so far in 2009 – please leave your comments below.
Also, I’m adding a poll to the right hand column to guage opinion on whether we are finally at the bottom of the downturn, and things are looking up from here.
We are two thirds of the way through the first quarter of the year and up 10%. Quotes have been flying out yet it actually feels steady rather than busy. However lets trust that your feelings are right and that the year is at least no worse than last. Fingers crossed !
could it be that you and these outlets are selling them selves out of this not sitting back and saying “oh this credit crunch is affecting orders”
Possitive Mental Attitude was something i was once taught
if you got the EDGE over your competitors then use it.
well done to you
January has been good for us too – 102% of target! But don’t relax, January is only 1 month, we need to push on again!!!! Good luck to all.
Great News Matthew — there is some sort of upward swing on at present, but it is to early to say it is all over
Barry
Windows and doors have kicked off well in January as a company we are up by 8% on last year in total even though we haven’t seen the conservatory leads switch back on in a massive way this year.
If we had the conservatory leads we’d be flying!!! So yes I’m certainly saying we’ve seen an uplift in the market…
We are primarily trade only in England and half of clients are flat but the others had a good late January, albiet it is more the budget end of the market (smaller connys); we presume that people aren’t moving and for £6-10k you can put up another room on a house that may have negative equity and thus they are staying put and improving! feed back is that it is a lot of younger couples who have a relatively new mortgage or older people who have money in bank that isn’t earning bugger all in interest.
Trade Windows still flat, commercial (public sector) good, house builders (remember them?) must be on holiday. Aluminium going well in all sectors. We Kolorbond and that is flat out.
Glad to hear positive news coming from within the industry, we at Kolorseal have also had an increase in sales enquiries for our coloured windows, doors and indeed conservatories, up 43% on Jan 08. However, when we look at the like for like figures and companies that are enquiring it seems to be the same ones cropping up, the positive side to this is that most of them are realising the potential for sales in the coloured PVCu market and are continuing to expand this relatively untapped area for growth. Our coloured trim sales are up from last year although our building plastics trade counter is very quiet, (Weather), I hope. There has also been a very positive interest with the launch of the ‘Artisan’ range of coloured profiles which in turn has led to increased sales of ancilliary items to be colour bonded such as cill end caps, trickle vents, not to mention bay post cover caps and coupling covers. The biggest increase in sales over the last 3 months is colour bonding and grain matching the inner side of composite door slabs and frames. Up a staggering …..130 % and that is sales not enquiries. Lets hope it continues.
The machinery market has taken a massive hit over the last six months with enquiries being minimal but during the last three weeks at Stuga we have started getting enquiries again. The new enquiries haven’t really converted to much in the way of orders yet but there is always a time delay before this happens.
We talk to fabricators in all sectors and whilst many are still suffering we are finding some busy ones and many that feel confident they will get through the downturn.
There is no doubt that the constant bad news being dealt up by daily national media is having a considerable negative impact on investment and spooking fabricators with worries about the future but some of them are starting to at least think about it again and no doubt some more will soon do it.
I reckon the downturn has a long way to run yet but there is still a requirement for a lot of windows and conservatories even at the current state of play.
21% up on last year for January and February has set off well.
Last quarters marketing on Secured By Design patio doors is now paying off and our free showroom offer is being taken up all over the UK – including two Conservatory Outlets mate!
The SBD conference / exhibition went extremely well last week and we are advised by Area Liason Officers that we are already getting specified (effectively it has to be us as we are the only SBD PVC patio door in the universe).
Vertical sliders are going from strength to strength and our first 100 window contract has just been ordered.
The future looks good so far!
Ian
Thank you for all the comments.
It’s clearly a mixed message, but for those businesses going the extra mile, they are seeing growth.
The early results from the poll, though, suggest there is still a lack of optimism from those in the industry.
RCG
Yes there is a bounce for sure, our January sales are up on last year and so far Feb is shaping up nicely so fingers crossed but its early days still.
Sales of the good stuff (reflex) as well as the cheap stuff (Pilks Activ Blue) are strong so conservatories are still happening. But we are extending more credit to firms becoming more like a bank
I’ve got Pilks Activ Blue in my roof!
We have seen a 60% increase in leads for Jan 09 over Jan 08 and anticipate a similar % in sales for the period based on sat leads.
Difficult to say whether the market has recovered as we are working a lot harder and doing things differently to what we used to. Long may it continue
It certainly seems on the up, with more leads this January and the quality is better, all leads are serious buyers not quote collectors, also it is easy to increase order value with secure lock cylinders and composite doors. Long may it continue.
A bounce! Yes I would agree. Like for like sales of solar inserts are up a little for January for new conservatory installers which is encouraging after a poor Q4. However, sales almost non existant in the retro fit and DIY retail markets as we would expect. For us the encouraging thing is the amount of new trade enquiries. You can either wait for it to come to you or go out and get it!