2 | AUGUST 2020
News
Read online at www.proinstaller.co.uk
Story continued from the front page
In recent months, online
searches for key home improvement
products have
remained strong despite
the disruption that coronavirus
has caused – with
some even reaching alltime
highs.
Let’s take the term ‘bifold’
as an example. In the
first week of June, people
were Googling it almost
as frequently as they were
in January, often glass and
glazing’s busiest month.
A slight variation – ‘bi
fold’ – received more
searches in May than it had
all year.
And the results for ‘patio
door’ were even more
impressive. In late May
and early June, searches
reached the highest level
since 2004.
Throughout 2020, monthly
searches for patio doors
have averaged around
22,000 a month – that’s 8%
up on the monthly average
for 2019.
What’s more, that’s
around a 50% increase on
2015, where the term was
Googled an average of
14,800 times a month.
Lighting up
lockdown
It’s important to state,
of course, that searches
aren’t sales. A person might
Google a product several
times before they actually
buy one, or search one
and not end up making a
purchase at all.
But it’s a clear demonstration
that people are
as interested in high-end
home improvement projects
as ever – and in some
cases, even more so.
The explanation for why
is likely to be complex –
but one key reason might
be the coronavirus lockdown
itself.
Tens of millions of people
were effectively shut
indoors for months on end
during lockdown’s strictest
phase, which happened to
coincide with unusually
glorious Spring weather.
It’s therefore unsurprising
that thousands liked the
idea of letting more light
into their homes, and being
able to enjoy an easier transition
between inside and
out – both areas in which
patios and bifolds excel.
Introducing Ezifold
and Ezislide
So in short, it looks as
though the aluminium door
boom is very much here
to stay.
And at 6 Day Doors,
we’ve got a selection of
outstanding bifold and
patio door products to help
installers meet that demand
with the minimum of time,
effort and fuss.
With its sleek aluminium
aesthetics, our Ezifold
bifold is a sure-fire winner
with any homeowner
looking for stylish, modern
design.
Available in a wide range
of configurations, its slim
sightlines offer high-end
aluminium aesthetics,
while its bottom frame can
be hidden in the floor to
achieve flat thresholds.
It also has a 25-year colour
guarantee, and 10-year
hardware guarantee, too.
And best of all, it comes
with the lightning-fast lead
times that have made the 6
Day Doors name.
Most fabricators will
make you wait 2-3 weeks
if not longer for aluminium
bifolds – and in today’s
time-pressured society, that
can mean the difference
between an order lost and
an order won.
But 6 Day Doors does
what it says on the tin –
buy a product, and it’ll be
with you in six days, or
you’ll get 50% off your next
order.
What’s more, we’re about
to add an outstanding patio
door product to the range,
too – Ezislide, which takes
the same sleek minimalistic
aesthetics, quality fabrication
and speedy installation
of Ezifold, and applies it to
a sliding patio door.
If you’d like to know more,
don’t hesitate to call
020 8500 4900 or email
[email protected]
Read more about 6 Day
Doors as we interview
MD Sunny Singh
Attlas on page 23
LOCKDOWN AND COVID-19
TO DRIVE 22% FALL IN
WINDOW AND DOOR MARKET
Revised forecasts from AMA Research suggest
Covid-19 and lockdown will deliver a 22% drop in the
value of the UK window and door market this year.
AMA, however, said that although
this would lead to short-term challenge
and some consolidation, prospects for the
medium and longer term were positive,
with the worst now behind it and moderate
but sustained growth forecast through
to 2024.
The authors of the revised edition of
the Door and Window Fabricators Market
Report UK2020-2024 write: ‘As with many
other construction products manufacturers
and suppliers, the restrictions imposed in
an attempt to contain the spread of the virus
have led to major disruptions to many
businesses.’
They add, however, that with recovery
forecast from Q4 this year, ‘growth is
forecast in all sectors with a gradual build
up over the subsequent 4-year period to
2024 when some sectors will have fully
recovered.’
While AMA forecasts a ‘V’ shaped
recovery, it however, warns that many
of the underlying issues which impacted
the industry pre-lockdown, remain. This
includes significant over-capacity, particularly
in PVC-u extrusion and fabrication.
It also adds that recovery will be faster
in some areas of the industry than others,
with significantly differing fortunes for
residential, housebuilding and commercial
sectors.
Jane Tarver, Senior Research Analyst
AMA Research said: “There is a lot that still
hangs in the balance. A second wave or
localised lockdowns still have the potential
to exert a major impact on the industry’s
fortunes.
“With April and May now behind us and
the relaxation of lockdown controls continuing
throughout June and July,we now appear
to be entering a period of recovery.
“While remain cautious, and while
further industry consolidation should be
expected, we can be optimistic about the
medium and longer term, through to the
end of the forecast period in 2024.”
AMA highlights the highly competitive
nature of the residential window market
in particular suggesting that the fortunes
of those who operate within it, will again
vary according to product offer and material
type.
“Ultimately, the industry is mature and,
in the longer term, heavily dependent on
replacement demand in the residential sector”,
Jane added. “That in return is reliant
on consumer confidence.
“Covid-19 has come with significant economic
cost. The continuing challenge for
companies – and the longer term one - is
to adapt to the trends which were defining
the window and door industry pre-lockdown.”
For further information please call 01242
235724, email marketing@amaresearch.
co.uk or visit www.amaresearch.co.uk
ISSN 2633-8866
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Issue 89 | August 2020
www.proinstaller.co.uk
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