Clearview National September 2017 - Issue 190 | Page 4

PROUD SPONSOR OF
INDUSTRY NEWS
FROMTHEEDITOR
The window and
door industry is ‘not
immune from the impact
of Brexit and faces strong
economic headwinds’ – that’s the
warning from Robert Palmer.
GGF Supports
the Construction
Marketing Awards
The 2017 Construction Marketing Awards
are open for entry, with the closing
date being Friday 22nd September.
» » ACCORDING TO THE HEAD OF THE
research specialist, the UK window industry faces dual
challenges of a tougher second-time replacement market
and wider economic uncertainty as the UK exits from
Brussels.
“The post-Brexit phoney war is coming to an end and
the realities of what will result in the case of a hard Brexit
are now beginning to dawn”, he says.
This, he argues, is already exerting an impact on
consumer confidence and with it economic growth.
Palmer reckons that tougher second-time replacement
sells and the shift away from home ownership are driving
long-term changes of their own.
He also argues that this is driving increased focus
on aesthetics which in turn is driving innovation in the
industry and the shift to premium finishes and foils in
retail markets. The definite shift in consumer expectation
to higher end offers is driving growth for aluminium and
significant growth in sales of aluminium bi-fold doors.
He also forecasts ‘exponential growth’ in the solid roof
conservatory market as a second key area of opportunity.
“Things are in our view going to be tougher but that
does not necessarily mean that all parts of the industry
will struggle,” he says. “If the economy slows, as we are
expecting, then, as always, high end and innovative products
are more likely to weather the storm, while cheaper
commodity products will become more vulnerable.”
» » FOR THE SECOND
successive year the GGF is
supporting the awards that
showcase the best of marketing in
the construction industry.
Last year the GGF with
specialist agency Refresh PR won
a Co