Pro Installer April 2020 - Issue 85 | Page 2

2 | APRIL 2020 News Read online at www.proinstaller.co.uk Story continued from the front page Exhibitions and trade fairs now seem almost prehistoric. Improve- ments in home delivery driven by the likes of Amazon and Deliveroo have changed the expectation of the consumer. It currently seems inconceivable that the British pub- lic will want to return to having “direct sell strangers” visiting their homes to sell them solar panels, double glazing or kitchens. Other once traditional sectors, like estate agency for instance, have already largely moved away from conventional offline strategies and transformed the way they operate with the help of digital technology. Platforms such as Teachable and Udemy are spawning a plethora of online courses in garden design, yoga, photography and social media management. The e-learning market is booming. The value of the sector is estimated to jump to $300bn (£252bn) by 2025, up from $190bn in 2018, accord- ing to the research firm Global Market Insights. It’s time for the home improvement industry to catch up. Mike Cherry, the national chair of the Federation of Small Busi- nesses, says many companies are finding new ways to be resilient and generate income to help them survive. “Small businesses are at the forefront of adapting and are keen new-to-firm innovators. Whether it be offering increased or new delivery or collection ser- vices or offering virtual guides to products or stores when premises aren’t accessible to customers, small businesses are trying to make this work,” he says. Installers must step up their on- line presence and embrace all the digital tools that are out there to help them through this challeng- ing time. With social distancing set to continue for many months it will be some time before they can visit customers’ homes to sell and price windows, so they’ll need to think about alternative ways to connect with prospects, nurture those leads, and win business. We know from our research that on average consumers need to have around seven touch points with a home improvement provider before the consumer gains enough confidence for the job to go ahead. We believe we can harness AI to digitise and im- prove the first five contacts leav- ing only the final detailed survey and the install as actual site visits, thus minimising unnecessary time in the customers house. At Customade Group, we’ve spent the last two years investing in and developing technology with our partners Winsoc Digital to help installers boost their digital fitness to engage with new customers and secure more busi- ness. While it was never created for an emergency such as this, our digital support package and lead management app does give installers a vital lifeline to pro- mote themselves, generate and nurture leads and even price and order windows remotely during the outbreak. We will come through this crisis and when we do, the world will be a different place. Online usage will be ingrained in many more people – from the young to the elderly – and remote working, shopping and buying will be widespread. telephone canvassing is already dead and foot canvassing will now go the same way. Those installers that are ready for this new era, will be the ones to succeed when things return to the new “normal”. We strongly recommend that home improvement companies use these weeks to improve their digital fitness so they are ready for the pent-up demand that will surely follow. www.customade.co.uk PANORAMIC OPENS SALES OF ITS FULL RANGE OF SWING AND SLIDE DOORS TO RETAIL INSTALLERS Panoramic Doors has re- vealed plans to open sales and distribution of its full range of Swing and Slide doors through a UK-wide network of Approved Installers. For the first time in the UK, all versions of the Panoramic Door – which allows the uninter- rupted openings of bi-folds but through a system of individual sliding panels that offer greater flexibility – will be available, including the original in alumin- ium, an aluminium and timber version and the PVC-U Panoramic door that the company intro- duced last year in the UK. Panoramic Doors have proved popular with homeowners seek- ing the unrestricted openings allowed by bi-folds, but who have also recognised the restric- tions of imposed by the hinged panels. Panoramic uses a system of individual panels that slide independently along a track. This allows the door to be fully opened, or in a combination of open and closed panels accord- ing to homeowner preference. Despite this flexibility, weather protection and security are as- sured by the tongue and groove design through which panels are interlocked when closed. This de- sign, combined with Panoramic’s patented hardware and operat- ing system, provide security to PAS24. Approved Installers will enjoy a showroom package that includes product together with digital and printed retail literature, along side excellent social media sup- port. Panoramic Doors are sup- plied fully glazed and ready to install, with a guaranteed 10-day turnaround and comprehensive technical assistance for installers, including full installation training, will also be provided. Aluminium versions of the Panoramic Door are available in three standard colours and more than 200 RAL options. The alu- minium/timber door is available in combinations of the aluminium colour options for the external frame and White Oak and Ma- ISSN 2633-8866 If you would like to find out more about the Pro Installer: Write to: Unit 2-3 Burleigh Court, Burleigh Street, Barnsley, S70 1XY Tel: 01226 321 450 Fax: 01226 730 825 Email: [email protected] hogany on the inside. The PVC-U Panoramic door is available in a wide range of coloured and woodgrained foils. A further op- tion that has proved popular with homeowners is the clever and durable Ascena insect screen that is also available as part of the package offered to installers. Doors may be ordered through Panoramic’s online ordering sys- tem, with prices from £395 plus VAT per leaf fully glazed (2.2m x 1m) for PVC-U doors; £540 + VAT per leaf for aluminium versions and £640 plus VAT per leaf for aluminium/wood. For installers, all versions of Panoramic doors are supplied fully glazed and are easier than conventional bi-folding doors to transport and handle, whilst also being simpler to install due to the design, with leaves simply slotted individually into the custom tracks. www.panoramicdoors.co.uk Issue 85 | April 2020 www.proinstaller.co.uk All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronically or mechanically without the consent of Clearview Group Ltd and any of its subsidiaries. Whilst every effort is made to ensure accuracy, this publication does not accept liability for errors, printing or otherwise appearing in this publication. The views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the editor or publisher.