Clearview 241 - December 2021 | Page 46

Hardware

SECURING THE SUPPLY CHAIN

» WITH THE BOOM IN REPLACEment door and window sales across the industry , it has never been more important to work with companies who can offer a robust and secure supply chain . This is the view of Chris Pell , General Manager at Total Hardware , who commented : “ The measures we ’ ve taken to protect our customers from the supply chain disruption that ’ s affecting the entire industry are making us an appealing choice of hardware supplier .”
He continued : “ As a result , we ’ ve seen astonishing sales growth in recent months , with some of our product lines increasing by over 100 % year-on-year as we continue to support our customers with the rapid rise in window and door hardware demand .”
As Chris says , Total Hardware has taken a number of steps to support its customers during this unprecedented surge in demand . For example , it has extended its Leeds headquarters by 20 %. This has allowed the company to increase stock levels considerably to keep pace with demand . It has also recruited new staff and purchased new operational machinery to ensure quick and accurate order despatch .
The company has also benefited from its robust business model . It has built strong relationships with some of the leading worldwide hardware manufacturers , which have been invaluable in keeping communication channels open . It provides a quick quotation turnaround and its investment in the business means it has been able to maintain its ability to offer reliable next day deliveries nationwide .
Above all , Total Hardware offers a comprehensive range of products across all price points , including its own ranges . Its Quantum range of premium hardware for windows and doors is aimed at fabricators who want to differentiate their own product range , while for customers working in the premium end of the domestic market the Superior 25 door hardware is a popular choice .
Chris concludes : “ There are huge opportunities in the market at the moment . There are also huge challenges . To succeed , you need to partner with suppliers who can mitigate the challenges so you can rise to the opportunities . That ’ s exactly what we ’ re doing for our customers at Total Hardware .”
www . totalhardwareltd . co . uk

Software investment streamlines processes to gear up for growth

» DELIVERING EXCELLENT customer service relies on careful pre-planning and organisation behind the scenes , which is why leading aluminium bi-fold hardware supplier AT Precision has invested in a new open source ERP software to help streamline its services .
The cloud-based business management software includes tools for CRM , e-commerce , billing , accounting , manufacturing , project management and warehouse management , and has been tailored by the company ’ s own programmers to meet its specific needs .
Sales Director Michael Hewitt comments : “ This investment has allowed us to integrate our services , manage
our finances , and streamline our inventory and purchasing operations , allowing for a seamless process from purchasing and production , right through to sales and customer service .
“ We also use it to calculate exact stock numbers , which allows us to draw up accurate product sales history reports and helps us estimate forward plans in terms of stockholding , ensuring we always have the products our customers need , and that they never fall short .
“ We also plan to upgrade the software system in the near future to include an online ordering portal , making purchasing from us even easier for our customers .”
Serving to over 100 fabricators across the country ,
AT Precision manufactures the Everglide range of bi-fold hardware , which includes rollers , top guides , pull handles , hinges , cleats and shootbolt handles , all of which are made from cast aluminium and are compatible with major systems .
AT Precision also manufactures the Everseal range of gaskets compatible with major systems , and supplies door locks and plastic ancillaries , which include injection-moulded cill end caps and adapter caps .
Michael continues : “ Thanks to careful pre-planning and clever investments , combined with the excellent job management features of our new cloud-based software , we ’ ve
managed to maintain a 99.9 % OTIF score throughout the pandemic , while keeping our price increases to a minimal 6 %, a lot less than many other suppliers .
“ Investment in this new software has been very rewarding , as it ’ s streamlined processes across the board , allowing us to really focus on what ’ s important – delivering high-quality products , on time , to our valued customers across the country .”
www . atprecision . co . uk
46 DECEMBER 2021
CLEARVIEW-UK . COM