I’ll supply a write up about Cycle India when I get a minute, but I just wanted to touch base with everyone about the weather.
I’ve come back to a window factory running at half capacity. We’d normally expect a slow start in the first week or two, but the severe weather conditions have seriously affected fitting.
I’ve spoken with a number of our installers, and they were all badly affected last week with the weather. Conservatory bases were virtually impossible to build with the ground frozen, and that is assuming the builders could get to site. Window installations seem to have been tricky also, with customers being quite rightly concerned about windows being pulled out in such inclement weather. One of our dealers suggested they are installing downstairs windows and doors this week, but can’t do upstairs windows as it’s too dangerous putting ladders up.
It has also been tricky getting to site to measure new work, or even quote new work. I suspect that installation departments throughout the UK are currently battling away trying to reschedule jobs, and keep customers happy.
I suspect that this bad weather could well be the final nail in the coffin for some companies in our industry, who may well have just clung on after Christmas, but not being able to fit has seriously affected cash flow at the hardest time of the year.
I certainly cannot remember a cold period like this in my life time, and have certainly never witnessed such delays to installation schedules.
The good news is that new leads seem to be very brisk as you would expect. And, I feel that this cold snap could just be a blessing in disguise as in the Spring consumers may reflect on the winter period, and consider upgrading to more energy efficient windows.
How has your company been affected by the weather?
