Pro Installer January 2017 - Issue 46 | Page 8

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PRO NEWS

JANUARY 2017 PRO INSTALLER
www. proinstaller. co. uk

MOVE INTO ALUMINIUM WITH CONFIDENCE

Customade says many installers are still cautious about entering the world of aluminium, despite a sharp and well documented rise in demand for aluminium in the domestic market. Since launching its REAL Aluminium solution, Customade has been steadily educating installers about resources available to help them move into aluminium with confidence. Claire Miller, Customade Group’ s marketing manager, explained:“ Historically, aluminium was difficult and complex to price and the lead times were painfully long. We wanted to help installers unlock the enormous potential of aluminium and benefit from
the higher profit margins it can bring. Our complete‘ REAL Aluminium’ solution delivers all the tools an installer needs to take their first steps from PVCu into aluminium.” In the last 18 months, Customade has increased aluminium output by 80 % and is taking on new members to its REAL Aluminium Installer Network every week. One installer reaping the benefits of the new aluminium supply model is Ross-on-Wye installer Monmouthshire Conservatory Company. Exclusively a PVCu installer when it was established in 2003, Monmouthshire made tentative steps into aluminium four years ago. Although
Monmouthshire had a good rapport with its aluminium supplier, the firm found that it was waiting several days for quotes and many weeks for deliveries. With unpredictable lead times, the firm couldn’ t plan installations and sometimes ran over on projects. Chris Atwell, owner at Monmouthshire Conservatory Company, says:“ Our first experience with aluminium was pretty frustrating, but sadly those lead times were typical back then. There was no better alternative, so there were restrictions on how much we could grow the aluminium side of our business.” Monmouthshire began installing aluminium glazed roofing systems from Customade
’ s sister company Atlas Glazed Roof Solutions and heard about REAL Aluminium soon afterwards. Convinced that it could overcome their aluminium supply issues, the company switched to Customade for the sole supply of aluminium. Since the move to Customade, aluminium has grown rapidly for Monmouthshire and now accounts for around 50 % of its business. Chris said:“ We immediately invested in Customade’ s pricing and quoting software and this gave us complete control over our quoting for the first time. We went from outsourced pricing taking several days to being able to produce quotes instantly in-house.
This had an enormous impact on how quickly we could win business. Our product lead times were previously up to nine weeks, but they have been cut down to just 14 days on standard stock colours. This leap helped us to complete jobs far faster than ever before.”
Customade also provides all REAL Aluminium installers with a comprehensive showroom and marketing support package.
To find out more, call 01453 826884 or visit www. real-aluminium. co. uk

TRUEMANS DOUBLES ALZHEIMER’ S TARGET

After smashing its Alzheimer’ s Society fundraising target of £ 5,000, Truemans trade counters has now doubled it to £ 10,000. Back in September 2016, seven staff members across the whole Truemans group took part in a 26-mile trek for their charity of the year, the Alzheimer’ s Society. The strenuous trek took place in the surroundings of Stonehenge and involved Joe, Dave, Ash, Adele, Tracy, Martin and Helen. Spurred on by friends and family along with messages of support online, they all managed it. They said that knowing they had pushed themselves to the limit to raise money for The Alzheimers Society was an amazing feeling. But knowing the money raised would go towards helping the fight against dementia in future made it all worthwhile. Joe Trueman, managing director added:“ It was a gruelling trek but also a humbling experience. We walked and talked to people living with dementia and those who know and care for people with Alzheimer’ s. We were able to swap stories and get through the experience together. After smashing our target of £ 5,000 I wanted us to double it, to £ 10,000. So that’ s our new target. If you haven’ t got round to sponsoring anyone, or you have thought of a way to raise even more money, let’ s do it. Let’ s do it to help the fight against dementia.” Joe said thank-you to everyone who donated and sent messages of support. Anyone who wishes to can add to the total raised here: www. justgiving. com / teams / Truemans2016

£ 15,000 Excavator For Charity Auction

The Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity celebrated its 60th anniversary at the Construction Industry Charity Christmas lunch at the Park Plaza Hotel, Westminster. To help things go with a swing, JCB donated a mini excavator worth more than £ 15,000 to be auctioned off to raise funds for the charity which provides welfare and financial support for the construction industry. The 1.5 tonne 8016CTS mini excavator was auctioned off in front of 1,000 people at the event on 2nd December. Those who didn’ t get a seat at the sell-out event could still bid online for their chance to win. The charity has been delivering charitable welfare and support to the sector since 1956 and since then has distributed more than £ 14 million to construction workers and their families. Bill Hill, chief executive officer of the Lighthouse Club, said:“ JCB has been a terrific supporter for many years. We can’ t thank the company enough for this extremely generous donation of an excavator for our auction.”
www. lighthouseclub. org