Pro Installer March 2014 - Issue 12 | Page 21

21 PRO INSTALLER MARCH 2014 PRO NEWS @proinstaller1 Window Store Eastbourne Celebrates Record Year New Planning Court Gets Go Ahead The Eastbourne branch of The Window Store is celebrating a record year with turnover up 32% on 2012. Disputes will be fast-tracked. Research has revealed that trade counters are now one of the fastest growing sectors. With three new depots opening every week competition is tough but the Eastbourne branch has risen to the challenge with frame sales are up 17% on 2012, and composite doors, a phenomenal 45%. The Window Store says that this success is largely down to the strength and quality of the Eastbourne team. Under the leadership of branch manager Paul Fear, the focus for 2013 was customer service. As the building and construction sector slowly but surely picked up pace, and with 20,651 local builders now supplying windows, doors and conservatories, the building products supplier wanted to be ready, across every facet of the business. The performance increases at Eastbourne are proof of how effective this response has been. The growth in product sales also supports the latest industry figures, with composite doors continuing to be the success story of the window and door industry. Justin Davies, general manager for The Window Store said: “We believe that people make a business and the Eastbourne team have certainly proved this point. A strong, high quality team allows you to grow sustainably and with confidence. 2013 was a bumper year for The Window Store, with Eastbourne striding out as our highest-ranking branch; something of which the team is incredibly proud. “Last year we saw a shift in our customer base with more and more of our customers offering complementary and ancillary services, something that we were able to support with confidence, and that has played a big part in making 2013 such a stand-out year. It’s a cliché but we really are a one-stop-shop; a local business where tradesmen can put a face to a name, pick up all they need and get advice and that’s invaluable,” added Justin. www.windowstoreplastics.co.uk or call 01323 647374 Twitter @The_WindowStore. The Eastbourne team (absentee: Mark Grooms, order processor): L-R: Paul Fear: Branch Manager, Ty Hughes: Supervisor, Mark Doherty: Branch Driver And Gary Orford, who supports the trade counter and manages stock control. Controversial reforms to the Judicial Review system will mean that legal disputes over major developments will be fast-tracked for consideration by a new Planning Court to be established by this summer. The move will see an estimated 400 planning cases a year resolved more quickly by being fast-tracked for hearings with specialist judges, instead of the main Administrative Court. The package of reforms to the Judicial Review ( JR) system will also include changes to make sure anyone making a JR claim faces a fair level of financial risk – ending the current situation where individuals and campaign groups can cause what Justice Secretary Chris Grayling (pictured) said can be “expensive delays with no cost or risk for themselves.” ‘Resolved more quickl