INDUSTRYNEWS
FROMTHEEDITOR
‘Back to school’,
but what have
we learnt?
» SEPTEMBER HAS ALWAYS BEEN
one of my favourite months; I loved school
as a child, my birthday is on the 21st (please no
gifts), and it just always feels like a new start to me. I
get that ‘second wind’ in September, start on some new
jobs in the house, clear up my computer, and I just adore
Autumn. Just as weekdays and weekends became blurred
this year, however, I wonder if September will still be the
same, or just another page on the calendar. As schools
go back, this month will still make me look back and
think what have I learnt from the last six months (and
not just that it’s ‘learnt’ not ‘learned’).
Lockdown has been a lesson for us all. I learnt I should
always have more than two toilet rolls in the house,
but also not to bulk buy for fear of thy neighbours’
judgement. A self-confessed ‘holiday-holic’ too, I definitely
appreciate the simpler things in life much more; a quiet
weekend, longer dog walks, family phone calls, and I’ve
made a big dent in my reading pile.
At work, I’ve learnt (and mostly through this
magazine) resilience and resourcefulness, community
spirit and creativity, inspiration and innovation, all
through adversity.
I thought I’d hear much more moaning since March,
and for that I’ve learnt not to assume. In fact, we’ve seen
on these very pages how many companies have taken
this year’s circumstances to re-evaluate how they do
business, approach new methods, design new ways of
‘getting the job done’, and help each other out along the
way.
I thought I’d see a lot of companies ‘close rank’ and
clam up and for that I’ve learnt that openness and
honesty will always prevail. So, whether commentary has
been to compliment or ‘constructively criticise’ what
has been happening with PMs, MPs, peers, productivity,
processes or anything else during the pandemic, a clear
channel of dialogue and discussion has always been there.
I hope it has also made us all realise how important the
trade press is - online and in print - to keep people in
touch; to ask questions and provide answers.
And, I thought I’d see more people giving up, and for
that I’ve learnt that where there’s a will there’s a way,
from turning machinery into mask manufacturers, to
fabricating and fitting glass screens, kitting out hospitals;
I don’t think I’ve seen one story that hasn’t taught me
about how fantastic fenestration really is.
And this month’s homework is to let me know your
thoughts please. You know how to get in touch.
Gemma,
Editor
LETTER TO THE MEDIA
We are clearly in unprecedented
times. However, the glass and glazing
industry also appears to be facing
untold challenges when it comes
to the supply of products. By that, I
mean PVC and aluminium extrusions,
hardware, reinforcement, glass and
other ancillaries. Anyone in the
industry claiming otherwise simply isn’t
telling the truth and headline claims
by companies being x% up on last
year don’t help the matter either.
» AS ONE OF THE MOST
respected brands in the global
market for PVCu systems, we
act professionally in everything
that we do. Untruths have no
place in this industry and more
so at a time where we all need
to work together with honesty
and integrity.
As an industry that’s been
plagued with a race to the
bottom in price for several
years now, we’re now seeing
companies taking a similar
stance when it comes to
lead times. Consumers have
been used to queuing at
supermarkets, farm stores and
even on the high street in recent
weeks and so the extension of
lead times is something that the
vast majority will accept.
But the issue of supply is
also compounded by the fact
that throughout lockdown
consumers have spent more
time than ever in their
respective homes and so home
improvements are higher up the
agenda than ever before.
If we are assuming that
a double income family has
been pretty much tied up at
home for three months, then
there has been the savings
on fuel, the inability to go out
for entertainment, a possible
mortgage holiday and the lack
of a large foreign holiday. The
result is that consumers are
looking to invest in their homes
with the surplus of money
that’s been accumulated over
several months. The impact
the uncertainty surrounding
Brexit had has also been pushed
aside.
If we look elsewhere in
the building sector there has
been a considerable shortage
of materials including plaster,
drainage and insulation and so
we are not alone in our segment.
As an industry we need to be
communicating clearly, honestly
and accurately to each other, so
that we can manage everyone’s
expectations in a diligent and
professional manner.
Yours sincerely
Gareth Jones
Managing Director
profine UK Ltd
4 » SEP 2020 » CLEARVIEW-UK.COM