Clearview North August 2013 - Issue 141 | Page 35

INDUSTRYNEWS LOOKING FOR INSTALLERS! The introduction of the Swish Twenty Four Seven window and door system has been a great move for Stoke-on-Trent based Cutting Edge UPVC and the company is now actively looking to attract new members to the proven Swish Authorised Installer Scheme. In addition to the new Swish system, Cutting Edge has also introduced vertical sliding sash windows and a range of aluminium windows and doors, including bi-folding doors to their product range. This new range of products is also available through their successful trade counter. Specifically, Cutting Edge is looking for installation companies to join the Swish Authorised Installer Scheme in Cheshire, Derbyshire, Shropshire and Staffordshire and even further afield. The scheme includes an advertising campaign that includes Grand Designs, Home Building and Renovating and Real Homes magazines and the Swish website harnesses LETTER TO THE EDITOR Pay Per Click (PPC) advertising and Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) techniques to help drive consumer enquiries. There’s also a dedicated Insurance Backed Guarantee (IBG) and Cutting Edge are offering a marketing rebate scheme whereby members can have access to brochures, drop cards, installation boards, leaflets, posters, banners and branded merchandise. For further information about how to become a Swish Authorised Installer through Cutting Edge call 01782 599955 or e-mail [email protected]. You can also visit www.cuttingedgewindows.co.uk or follow @CuttingEdgeUPVC on Twitter. When is bespoke not bespoke? When it’s a window! Once again our industry faces yet another occurance of the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing. Take the Consumer Rights Directive (CRD) and the Construction Products Regulations (CPR), one contradicts the other. Amongst the good within the CRD, which will protect us all as consumers, is a “withdrawal from contract clause”, better known as a “cooling off period”. Consumers will be entitled, as standard, to have a 14 day period from the date goods are delivered when they can withdraw from the contract but they will be liable for any reasonable direct costs. However (and here comes the only bit of common sense) as windows and doors are bespoke in size and specification to fit the consumers property, fenestration products are deemed in the CRD, to be bespoke. Consumers buying bespoke products do not have a right to a withdrawal period, providing you tell them they do not have a withdrawl period, due to the bespoke nature of the products they are ordering. Now here comes the conflict, having established that under the CRD, fenestration products are bespoke why then under CPR are fenestration products definitely not bespoke? According to CPR whilst windows are of different sizes they are “system made” and therefore not bespoke. Had they been bespoke then the industry could have avoided the need to CE mark products. Don’t get me wrong, Masterframe Windows Ltd have CE marked all their products but suspect other businesses not to be in the same position. GONE FOR GREY When Andrew Glover and his wife Nicola looked for a luxury and stylish front door to their house, they called upon industry pioneers, Solidor, to add a touch of continental chic to their property just outside Wakefield, West Yorkshire. Andrew Glover is the managing director of West Yorkshire Windows and Chairman of Wakefield Wildcats rugby league team. Though Andrew will be swapping his director’s box for a bike saddle in September as he embarks on GM Fundraising’s Hope 66 challenge, along with Solidor’s managing director, Gareth Mobley. The installed Milano French Doors are part of Solidor’s exclusive and luxurious Italia Collection and include a full-length stainless steel handle, low threshold and key only security locking system. One of the fundamental features of the Solidor range of composite doors is their impressive range of 17 colours and finishes inside and out and this particular installation incorporated two anthracite grey door slabs with a matching foiled grey outer frame. Andrew commented: ‘We already sell a number of Solidor composite doors at West Yorkshire Windows. We are absolutely delighted with the end result and it has made a real feature on our home.’ Visit www.solidor.co.uk, call 01782 847300, or follow @solidorltd on Twitter. R. Rabett Technical Director Masterframe Windows Ltd To read more, visit www.clearview-uk.com AUG 2013 35