NEWS
In the frame – Ped Barnes , left , and John Pearce of Universal Windows .
UNIVERSAL APPEAL
Thriving doors and windows firm is based on quality products , strong work ethic , after-sales service – and friendship
WORDS : DAVE ROBSON PICTURE : STUART BOULTON
They ’ d been close friends and workmates since the late 1990s – so it was only fitting that their doors and windows business got its name during a joint family holiday .
Middlesbrough window fitters John Pearce and Peter “ Ped ” Barnes first teamed up at the Window Centre on Stockton Road , Middlesbrough .
They worked there for 12 years before , with a wealth of experience and customer goodwill behind them , they decided to set up their own business .
But what to call it ? John , 51 , of Acklam , explained : “ It was December 2011 and our families were on holiday together in Orlando .
“ We toyed with the idea of Wiser Windows because we were drinking Budweiser ! But then my wife Nikki saw the ‘ Universal Studios ’ globe behind us and said , ‘ There ’ s your name – Universal Windows ’.”
With the name sorted , the lads spent the next few years building up an enviable reputation for hard work and quality .
But in 2018 / 19 , they decided to take the plunge into manufacturing , too , from their premises at Future Buildings on Portrack Road , Stockton – little knowing what was just around the corner .
John said : “ We ’ d been talking about it since we got together . Ped ’ s experience was in fitting , mine was in fabricating so
112 | Tees Business between the two of us , we felt we had the skills , experience and work ethic to make a go of it .
“ There ’ s nearly 10 years ’ difference in age between us but we both have the same mindset . During the summer , if it ’ s daylight and there ’ s work to do , we ’ ll stay until it ’ s dark . We just get on with it .
“ And we have the same mindset with the business and money . When we set up , we made sure we had some money set aside so if we needed anything – tools , vans , things like that – we could do it .”
New machinery investment in January 2020 saw them able to turn out top quality doors and windows , and a few hectic but successful weeks followed . But then came Covid-19 . John admitted : “ We probably set up at the worst possible time . We ’ d just got our new machines and business was booming , then everything ground to a halt . And even when we were allowed to start trading again , there were delays because a lot of our materials came from China and Italy .” Thanks to money set aside and the roaring trade of the first three months of 2020 , they pulled through . And since then , Universal Windows has gone from strength to strength , with its latest development seeing an expansion into more of their Portrack Lane premises to increase production .
Manufacturing everything to do with uPVC windows and doors – they currently turn out between 170 and 250 items a week – they have two vans and workers out on the road , fitting and installing .
They have nine staff but with work flooding in , expansion ’ s on the cards in 2023 – including a website . All this on the back of being finalists in the Best News Tees Business Awards ’ Best New Manufacturing Business category .
And John continues to face his own personal challenge , having been diagnosed with stomach cancer 11 years ago .
He said : “ It ’ s under control . I ’ ve just had my third chemo , which was a bit tougher than the first two , which I sailed through . But to be honest , I go about life as if I don ’ t have it .”
As Ped chips in “ I babysit him !”, John adds : “ To be fair , if I had another business partner , we ’ d have probably gone our separate ways . Ped has to do a lot if I can ’ t come in early on a morning , or I struggle after a rough night – but considering what I ’ ve got , I ’ m all right . I still try and do my normal everyday life . And a big factor in me still being able to come work is Ped – he just gets on with it .”
And it ’ s that friendship , coupled with top quality of work and first class after-sales service , that underpins John and Ped ’ s business – universal qualities surely all firms should strive for .