Heritage & Timber
Sash window sales to stay strong despite downturn
» STEVE WINSLET , GROUP Managing Director of Victorian Sliders , comments on the state of the market .
There ’ s no doubt that , for the construction sector , 2023 is proving harder than 2022 – if not any year since the pandemic began .
Anecdotally , many in glass and glazing are saying the market is around 15 % -20 % down on where it was this time last year .
For a more rigorous assessment , we can look to the CPA . They ’ re predicting a 6.4 % drop in overall construction output in 2023 , and a 17 % fall in private housing .
In their account , last autumn ’ s disastrous mini-budget , interest rates reaching a 14-year high , rising mortgage rates , falling real incomes and a cost of living crisis have combined to produce a sharp drop in demand .
However , it ’ s not all doom and gloom . While the decline is steep , it ’ s predicted to be less severe than 2008 , 2012 and 2020 . Also , before the current market instability , construction output was at the highest level in history .
It ’ s possible that a moderate downturn may actually provide time and space to recover from that disruption , and be more streamlined and efficient moving forward . What ’ s more , the CPA are predicting that the decline in repair , maintenance and improvement will be less severe – offset , researchers suggest , by strong demand for products that can improve energy efficiency .
We also know from experiences of previous recessions that while some sections of the population see incomes squeezed , the higher end of the market is much less affected .
At Victorian Sliders , we feel we ’ re excellently placed to support our customers through a more challenging 2023 . ECOSlide is extremely versatile – its stylish sash window aesthetics are highly sought after at the higher-end of the market , where consumers still have money to spend .
It ’ s increasingly winning attention in the new-build sector , meaning ECOSlide customers have two potential avenues for selling them , and aren ’ t solely reliant on residential RMI .
And it ’ s also highly thermally efficient , meaning they ’ re able to capitalise on growing demand for energy efficiency .
www . victoriansliders . co . uk
Irish heritage and support
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» DOOR GROUP , A DIVIsion of ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions UK & Ireland is highlighting the support available to their existing and potential customers in Ireland , with Randen Lannas and Stephen Wilkinson on hand to advise customers on the specification , installation , and ongoing maintenance of doorsets .
From its factory and head office in Ireland , the company provides the most complete range of doorset solutions for any application . These include high performance steel and timber doorsets , which can be factory fitted with a wide variety of Group products such as mechanical or electro-mechanical locks , master-key systems , architectural hardware , door controls , door sealing systems and access control solutions .
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Brian Sofley , Managing Director at Door Group , explains : “ All our products are designed and manufactured in our production facility in Co Antrim , and this ‘ all under one roof ’ capability gives us a very definitive competitive edge when it comes to fulfilling large or small contracts and meeting tight deadlines .
“ What ’ s more , the experience , skill and motivation of our workforce is second to none – with Randen and Stephen a critical part of our team , on board to work specifically with our Irish customers .”
Randen Lannas DipGAI , MGAI , Architectural Project Consultant for Northern UK & Ireland , is a qualified GAI diploma holder and consultant , and very well placed to advise
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on the best door and ironmongery solutions . He also boasts great expertise in security , compliance , and lifesaving products such as fire and emergency escape systems .
He said : “ Although we find mechanical products very popular for day-to-day door systems , we also have advanced access control and door systems in our portfolio , and are seeing customers increasingly leaning towards electronic systems – especially for public and multi-occupancy buildings .”
Stephen Wilkinson , Area Sales Manager for Ireland and Scotland , has been with ASSA ABLOY for over twenty years , and in that time has a built up a wealth of knowledge , he added : “ By developing relationships with new and existing clients , we aim to educate and support our Irish customers on the safest and most secure solutions for their door requirements .”
www . assaabloy . com
64 OCTOBER 2023 CLEARVIEW-UK . COM