INSTALLERSUPPORT
Quoting software for installers by installers
Window installer turned software guru , Chris Brunsdon , talks us through his journey from family installation business to developing the Framepoint app .
» TOMMY TRINDER ’ S FRAMEPOINT ® platform was born of out of Chris Brunsdon ’ s frustration . Frustration at trying to sell windows to customers with the wrong piece of software to hand ; software that was clunky , overly complicated , built for manufacturers not installers , but most of all , he says , dull and boring :
“ Surely it was possible to design a piece of kit that was simple to use and actually got the customer ’ s heart beating faster ,” says Chris . “ Basically , I just wanted something to save me time and help me win an order .”
That simple premise led Chris to knock on the door of Robert Franks . Rob was Chris ’ erstwhile IT Director at TimberWindows . Com ; a company Chris founded in 2004 and sold , to private equity , in 2009 .
“ The brief was simple ,” explains Chris . “ I want to be able sketch windows on a computer , just like I do on my A4 pad . I want them to appear in full , photo-realistic quality , priced and ready for me to take the order . And , of course , I want to be able to show a client exactly how they ’ ll look on their house .”
That was in 2012 . Chris maintains he never actually asked Robert outright how long it might take to build this holy grail . But in his mind , he ’ d thought one year . The team at Tommy Trinder grew . Chris ’ bank account dwindled . Seven years later , with the support of a number of talented computer programmers , Rob delivered .
“ To be fair , the goal posts moved considerably over those seven years ,” says Chris . “ Turns out it wasn ’ t just windows that I wanted the software to draw and quote ; I needed doors , double doors , composite doors , sash windows , patios , bi-folds and tilt-turns too . Plus , of course , bays . Oh , and by the way , the app would need to be able to configure all these products in PVCu , aluminium and timber !”
Would Chris invest again if I knew the time and costs involved ?
“ The problem is I was hooked ; and still am ,” he says . “ From the first time I sketched a window on Framepoint ® with my finger , and saw it appear on the screen before my eyes - lifelike , accurate and in glorious technicolour – there has been no going back . After that it ’ s just been a question of chasing down every last detail from thresholds to trickle vents , packers to patterned glass – every option available to touch , tap and see .”
Tommy Trinder launched proper in November 2019 . By Christmas 2019 the firm had twenty-five companies using the platform , which felt good but didn ’ t exactly swell the
coffers . Says Chris ; “ Framepoint ® is not expensive . Coming from an installer background I know that margins are tight . Framepoint ® is available from under £ 100 a month so that installers of all sizes can benefit ; that commitment to affordability is important to us .”
Feedback from these early adopters gave the firm confidence , though . There were reports of huge time savings – for some Framepoint ® was cutting quoting time in half . Also real wins for installers in minimising error . Many reported improved conversion rates and a sense of pride in presenting more professionally .
By the time of the first lockdown Tommy Trinder had grown to about fifty subscribers . Like most businesses , the firm wondered what was going to happen next . Then an unexpected thing occurred ; sales and activity rocketed . Faced with the prospect of no longer being able to conduct home visits , installers turned to Framepoint ® as their ‘ virtual showroom .’ Hooking up , sharing screens and carrying out sales demo ’ s remotely saw volumes of quotes and makeovers on Framepoint ® surge . Pre-lockdown less than £ 6m of quotes were done on the platform each month . By June 2020 installers were quoting around £ 28m of work through the platform , and in March 2021 it will top £ 50m .
“ It ’ s staggering to think that over 8000 homeowners receive a quote generated by Framepoint ® each month ,” says Chris . “ With Corona it ’ s been a weird and wonderful launch , but our mission is certainly clear . We are here to make selling easier for installers ; to help installers Sell with Wow . Whether that ’ s face-to-face , in a showroom or remotely .”
www . tommytrinder . com
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