Renegade Conservatory Guy

I’m delighted to be interviewing one of the real industry heavy weights today - Alan Burgess.

Alan is the MD of Masterframe - Specialist manufacturers of PVCu Vertical Sliding Box sash Windows. 

Established in June 1988 Masterframe have been devoted to manufacturing sash windows since 1991.

Remaining focused on producing just sash windows, has enabled Masterframe to develop sash windows to superior level that others simply do not reach.  On their website they proudly boast that:

…we are probably the most expensive manufacturer of PVCu sliding sash windows in the UK

• 2008 has been a difficult year for the industry, but how has Masterframe been performing?

Like all businesses, you need strong relationships with your customers as others will be urging them to switch, often price is their only weapon and whilst tempting for the weaker businesses rarely succeeds for the more established ones. It’s not a time for complacency, but to establish brand values and demonstrate why its in our interests to help grow our clients businesses……we both make more money that way.

• Do you think that it is possible for fabricators of non-niche uPVC products to make a decent profit in the coming years?

Many will have read articles recently of the forthcoming recession (Q4) but we actually started manufacturing in the last one 1991, and little has changed, with industry leading brands, right products, right support material etc, you’ll position yourself to be hit less hard and emerge more quickly than weaker alternatives.  

• Which companies can you see doing very well at the moment, and (without being specific) which type of companies do you think are struggling?

Again its about brand, two type of business do well when times are tough, budget (4 Tee shirts for a £1) and premium, because they’re less affected by price (indeed they’ll decide NOW is the best time to spend their money as prices as under pressure)

• If you were having a conservatory fitted to your house, would you choose a national company or a local company to fit it?

Smart question, I’m intending to have an orangery, don’t get me wrong there are some lovely conservatory companies, but I’d prefer an orangery with sash windows fitted by a trusted local installer, and it’s a direction that consumers seem to like too.

• How can you see the uPVC window and door market performing over the next five to ten years?

Actually I see it better than in the past. The greens raised several concerns over PVCu and threatened that material, but recycling, lead free, energy efficiency, there are so many good stories its becoming hard for PVC not to be a favourite material, that said its vital we rectify the damage we’ve done as an industry to the nations housing stock. DESIGN is all important, cheap plastic that’s inappropriate in design should be outlawed; we don’t do our industry any favours by cutting corners!

• I understand you are now on the board at the GGF.  According to the website the GGF is ‘the recognised leading authority and voice for employers and companies within the flat glass, glazing, window, home improvement, plastics and applied window film industries in the UK’.  I am not convinced the GGF fulfils this role completely.  Do you agree, and if so, how are you trying to advise on improvements to the GGF’s remit?

This merits a chapter by itself. You say you’re not convinced the GGF fulfils its role completely, well I believe the problem starts with the question, just what is its role? It’s a membership federation and needs to protect its membership, but with such limited resources it is expected to have an opinion/solution to any item of legislation, from H&S, consumer protection, to transportation of waste licences. Their brief is to have all the answers on all subjects. Hopefully I’m able to assist their focus and resources are directed on the strategic priorities.

• You were one of the attendees at the ‘Old Roots; New Routes’ Industry Debate last year.  Will there be another industry debate, and do you feel it achieved what it set out to achieve?

That’s something I’d like to see again, not because it gave publicity to the attendees, but has stimulated discussion in the industry which has to be a good thing.

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For more information about Masterframe please visit:

http://www.masterframe.co.uk/

Masterframe also has a consumer website for their Bygone Collection dealer network:

http://www.bygonecollection.co.uk/