INDUSTRYNEWS
Dealer network success
for Conservatory Outlet
As the end of Conservatory
Outlet’s financial year draws to a
close, the fabricator is celebrating
significant growth which the
company directors largely
attribute to the success of its
installer-customers.
Conservatory Outlet supplies
to a network of dealers, with
one established in almost every
region, and provides them with a
strong level of marketing and sales
support.
As a result, success Conservatory
Outlet has grown 50% year on
year.
“As a supplier to a very small
customer base, we’re not your usual
trade fabricator,” comments MD
Greg Kane. “Through forming close
relationships with our customers
we become an addition to their
business, providing many of the
tools they need to grow organically,
which in turn contributes
substantially to our own success.
“Most of our growth comes from
the increased purchases of existing
dealers but we’ve recently welcomed
new dealers on board which has
added to this. This growth is part of
the overall growth of the industry
which is currently up nearly 9%.
This is great news, particularly for
our customers as they’re ideally
positioned to take advantage of a
strong market.”
www.conservatoryoutletdealers.co.uk/ or call 01924 239813
Compulsory IBGs welcomed by DGCOS
The Double Glazing and Conservatory
Ombudsman Scheme (DGCOS) says it is
“delighted” with the news that all domestic
installation guarantees must have financial
backing from 6 June this year.
“This legislation from the DCLG is longoverdue,” explains DGCOS CEO Richard
Christie (pictured). “DGCOS has, however,
since its inception mandated its members to issue
every retail customer with an Insurance Backed
Guarantee (IBG).
“The existing system of ‘offering IBGs’ can lead
to worrying problems for consumers,” continues
Richard. “Often where an IBG is offered it isn’t
always taken up – in my experience very few
consumers offered an IBG after installation do
so: not least because consumers have to pay for
IBGs themselves at this stage. Add to this the fact
that it can be easy for consumers to mess up the
paperwork, with many forgetting to complete
and return the forms, and it is obvious that more
needed to be done to protect consumers.”
Richard added a word of warning: “All IBGs
aren’t equal – they can be confusing and full of
get-out clauses but compulsory protection is a
step in the right direction.”
The report is available here: http://www.
dgcos.org.uk/assets/Consumer_Protection_
Report_3rd_Edition.pdf
HURST DELIVERS WITH
GROUNDBREAKING
POD SYSTEM
Hurst Plastics has boosted the
efficiency of its deliveries after
investing in a cutting edge
electronic proof of delivery
and fulfilment system from a
fellow Kingston-upon-Hull
based company. Developed
by specialist IT solutions
provider Axida, the new and
innovative fleXipod system
provides Hurst’s retail customers
24
JUL 2014
with more accurate, real time
information on their deliveries
than ever before. Hurst is the
first company ever to use this
best of breed system on the
sophisticated next generation
Samsung Note 3 handheld
device.
Each vehicle in Hurst’s fleet is
now equipped with fleXipod,
which generates live information
for both the customer and Hurst
to ensure smooth, scheduled
deliveries and enhanced service.
At the heart of fleXipod is its
GPS tracking technology, delivered
for the first time via a Samsung
Note 3 handheld device. fleXipod
offers seamless integration with the
Hurst Live package - a complete
solution which provides customers
with essential, live information on
every single order placed.
To read more, visit www.clearview-uk.com