Clearview National December 2017 - Issue 193 | Page 36

Annual Review
DRIVING FORWARD
Chantel Roach, Sales and Marketing
Director - Distinction Doors
» » THERE’S NO DOUBT
that 2017 will always be a
significant year for Distinction
Doors because it saw the launch
of our nxt-gen range. The brief
when we started to develop
nxt-gen was straightforward.
We wanted to deliver something
that would drive the industry
forward in a way that could add
instant value to a fabricator with
no disruption to the fabrication
set up. The reaction from the
industry to nxt-gen suggests
we’ve succeeded in delivering
all that and more. Nxt-gen
offers cost-savings, time-savings
and waste-saving benefits to
fabricators. For homeowners,
there are beautifully balanced
aesthetics thanks to the inverted
glazing cassette while the
trademark oak tree woodgrain
effect, market-leading
thermal efficiency, choice of
contemporary or classic glass
designs from the Distinction
Glass range and PAS:2016
security compliance as standard
adds the reassuring Distinction
touch.
Away from nxt-gen, 2017 saw
the prestigious appointment of
David Amos as a Non-Executive
Director of the company and
we introduced new production
developments at our 86,000
square feet headquarters,
bringing the total investment
over the past 18 months to
£750,000.
www.distinctiondoors.co.uk
Steady growth
Mike Derham,
Chairman,
Mighton Products
» » IT HAS BEEN A POSITIVE
year for Mighton with steady sales
growth in domestic and export
markets, particularly in Europe
and the US. We have invested
heavily in our staff, systems,
processes and product innovation
and development.
Fresh interest from countries
such as Poland and Latvia,
alongside new and strengthened
relationships with major US
window manufacturers, has
increased the need to develop
greater brand awareness across
different markets. China looks
to be our next major market for
2018.
A significant milestone was
solidifying a partnership with
Anker Stuy BV which enables us
to market a superior paint range
to the UK. Mighton has also
introduced a range of patented
woodworking machinery designed
for the joinery professional, as well
as being the only UK registered
Apple HomeKit manufacturer at
the time of writing.
SURPRISINGLY CHALLENGING YEAR
Adrian Barraclough, Chairman - Quickslide and Welglaze
» » “2017 HAS BEEN
surprisingly challenging for us
with lots of new initiatives and a
new internal structure, in order
to improve operational efficiency
both. High points reached have
been OTIF of 99% and seeing
our leading 20 partner customers
growing very well in the Vertical
Slider market.
With windows now increasingly
considered as ‘furniture’ our
premium products are well suited
to a market in which homeowners
are increasingly discerning
when replacing their windows
and doors. We pursue a mantra
that buying from Quickslide or
Welglaze will never give sales
people a reason to not close
a sale: product quality, range
including colours and detailing,
price and delivery time have been
a focus for us in recent months
to maximise our customers’ sales
efforts.
36 » DEC 2017 » CL EARVI E W- UK . C O M
“I also believe that the industry
has never been in a better place;
although there are many price
pressures the opportunities
couldn’t be better. We’re looking
at 250,000 new houses a year, an
average uplift on product price
due to added value, and a market
that is now beginning to replace
the old ‘White Gold’ of the 80’s,
in both products and attitude.”
www.quickslide.co.uk
The challenges for Mighton
have come from the macro
environment and revolve around
international exchange rates and
the cost of shipping in the wake
of Brexit. Repercussions were felt
earlier in the year but this has
been followed by a more settled
period.
The major challenge for
the year ahead is perhaps the
unknown and how that ultimately
affects our ability to offer the
right quality products at the right
price.
www.mightonproducts.com