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The continuing rise of the repair market
DANNY BASDEN examines the emergence of the double glazing repair market.
Having worked exclusively in the repair
and maintenance for uPVC, aluminium
and wooden double glazing for the last
six years, I am amazed at the speed at
which the sector has advanced to the
position of strength it holds today.
In 2009, there were companies who
recognised the gap in the market for repair
products for all types of double glazing.
In the main, these were small companies
which supplied fabricators and installers
with the one-off repair items.
After the demise of Connaught and the
subsequent downward trend into the
period of austerity, the fastest growing
sector of our market was that of repairs.
As the smaller window companies were
failing it was the up and coming repair
companies which often purchased
from the receivers the stock seized. The
facilities market was wide open and
most of the operators involved in the
large maintenance and refurbishment
contracts turned to the repair businesses
to purchase the stocks they required to
fulfil their contract obligations. Repair
companies sold their customers what they
required in the quantities they wanted
to purchase. Previously the attitude had
been different. It was then all about box
quantities and large, minimum order
values.
Central government issued edicts
relating to all public buildings within
their remit, that ‘repair not replace’ must
become the mantra. Local authorities and
housing associations quickly followed suit.
With this now the way forward, the repair
sector opened up and began to grow at an
unprecedented rate. With their willingness
to adapt to service these new customers,
companies were just as eager to use them.
There had always been repair companies
but in small numbers and well spread
across the country. Their growth was
steady and year on year they progressed.
Once the austerity really kicked in, not
surprisingly, they started to see sales
increasing in all areas.
‘recognised the gap
in the market’
So with repair firmly high on the
agenda, there was increasing interest
in repair products from the locksmith
sector. Mobile 24/7 locksmiths saw the
opportunity with the repair market and
needed to access the products they
needed to carry out the jobs to which
they were being called out. This was really
when locksmiths began to take a more
active interest in the PVCu repair market.
A number of the established repair
companies became very active and started
to source their own products, many of
which were to come from China. I have
visited China on a number of occasions.
Twice a year they hold an International
Fair: the Canton Fair is held in April and
October of each year in a venue th ]\]Z]H