In 2010 Which? posed as a potential double glazed windows and doors customer, and asked Anglian, Everest, Safestyle, and Weatherseal/Zenith Staybrite to visit at least four addresses each across Britain, and give them a quote for double glazing. The Which? “probe finds false claims from big firms’ reps.”
According to the report on their findings on the Which? website, their undercover investigation found that “some salespeople in the £1.2bn-a-year industry were making dodgy claims – such as saying they were part of a government scrappage system that doesn’t exist – and pressurising people with discounts into signing up.”
Sadly for the double glazing industry the “Which? experts were astounded by the tactics used”, which included:
a) six out of 18 salespeople made misleading claims, such as ‘We’ve been tested by the government and were chosen for its scrappage scheme’ by an Anglian salesperson
b) seven out of the 18 salespeople offered a discount if the undercover researcher signed up immediately
fifteen out of 18 offered significant savings, often half the ‘original’ price – the biggest drop was £16,926 from an Everest salesperson
c) many of the salespeople offered a lower price with a ‘credit deal’
Peter Vicary-Smith, chief executive of Which?, says: ‘As a homeowner, replacing your windows is one of the most expensive jobs you’re likely to face, which is why we’re so disappointed to discover salespeople from the biggest names in the double glazing business making outlandish claims and using hard sell tactics.’
I deplore all hard sell tactics, which continue to give the double glazing industry a bad name and unfairly tar many reputable local independent double glazing manufacturers and installers with the same brush, even though many have a genuine “no pressure promise” like Hazlemere Window Company in High Wycombe, Bucks. I find that the unprofessional behaviour (as exposed in the Which? probe) of some individual sales persons representing the “Nationals” actually is counter productive, driving customers away, as it is my experience that no customer wants any form of pressure applied to them when facing such an important investment decision – I certainly don’t!
Consequently, I am proud to work for a family run firm that does not tolerate any hard sell tactics, plus prides itself on being more than happy to leave a detailed written quotation with a customer for them to consider in their own time, and in their own space. Plus customers can browse unpestered seven days a week through our home improvement showroom on Cressex Business Park, seeing what they are going to get in relaxed environment before having to make any form of commitment.
This rather damming report on the national double glazing companies carried out by Which? serves as a reminder that there is sadly far too many selfish, pushy and uncaring people still working for the big boys. What I don’t understand is why don’t the National double glazing companies exposed by Which? clean up their representative’s acts? Surely they must see the damage it is doing to their brands and the entire industry? Maybe they don’t care about the industry or their repuation? Well boys and girls, as William Shakespeare wrote “something is rotten in the state of Denmark” (Hamlet Act 1 Scene 4) and needs sorting – fast!
CATAGORY|Commerce, Conservatories, Windows & Doors
NatWest Manager Phil Walls + Hazlemere Windows Managing Director Stuart Braham
Family-run business Hazlemere Windows has acquired new premises in High Wycombe after landing a finance package worth £1.3 million through banking partner NatWest.
Hazlemere Windows was founded in 1985 by Stuart Braham and his father George, who sadly passed away in 2006 leaving his three sons to run the business. Well known locally as an independent double glazing manufacturer and installer across South Buckinghamshire and Berkshire, the company has demonstrated impressive year on year growth and is bucking the trend by purchasing new premises adjacent to their head office factory and showroom on Cressex Business Park, High Wycombe.
The new 38,000 sq ft premises will be used to extend their manufacturing and production operation as well as improving their quality control. The company employ in excess of 75 people to work in line with their targeted £10m annual turnover and is set to create further jobs to work in line with their expansion.
The Hazlemere management team worked in partnership with NatWest to secure finance facilities for the purchase of their latest premises, which included costs for refurbishment as well as working capital.
Phil Walls, relationship manager at NatWest, has a strong relationship with Hazlemere and was fully on board with providing £1.3m to support their growth. The premises are complete and should be fully operational by the end of this month.
Stuart Braham, managing director of Hazlemere Windows, said: “When the Braham family started this business 25 years ago we never envisioned the rapid growth and the amazing support we would receive from the local community, which has undoubtedly fuelled our success and been the bedrock of our continuing business growth. We are very proud of our success and thank NatWest for supporting our latest developments. Having completed our initial move into our new premises we are excited about the opportunities this will present.”
CATAGORY|Commerce
12,774 Square Feet Warehouse, Industrial & Office Space Available With Yard/Parking
Due to expansion, and the purchase of a new 38,000 square foot premises next door to Hazlemere Window Company’s existing freehold head offices, factory and showroom in Wellington Road on Cressex Business Park, High Wycombe, Bucks, the Hazlemere Group are looking to lease out 12,774 square feet of warehouse, industrial and office space to the rear of their existing 4,000 square foot home improvement showroom.
The property available for immediate lease is located on Cressex Business Park, High Wycombe’s premier business park, less than one mile from junction 4 of the M40 motorway. High Wycombe town centre is approximately one mile to the north, offering a full range of retail and leisure activities and a train service to London Marylebone with a fastest journey time of 35 minutes. High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire is strategically centrally located on the M40 motorway approximately 30 miles to the west of London and forms part of the Greater Thames Valley region. Download a PDF of the full leasehold particulars
Hazlemere Windows 12,774 square foot property for lease comprises a detached warehouse/industrial unit, with a yard and parking. This property owned by the Hazlemere Group provides good quality modern accommodation with two-storey offices at the front and a large mezzanine floor in one corner to the rear. Additionally, there is covered external storage.
The specification includes, air-conditioned offices, kitchen and toilet facilities, 5.3m maximum eaves height, a separate secure gated entrance and loading doors at either end of the frontage. The property has the following gross internal floor areas
AREA SQUARE FEET (SQUARE METRES)
Ground Floor Offices & Production 8,643 (802.95)
First Floor Offices 1,084 (100.67)
Mezzanine 1,655 (153.80)
Store 1,392 (129.36)
TOTAL 12,774 (1,186.78)
If you would like to know more call 01494 536000 or email info@hazlemere.co.uk
CATAGORY|Commerce
There are no doubts many businesses across the UK who will hope the Government delays its highly unpopular 2.5% VAT increase on December 31st.
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has made a robust stance in calling for a delay to this Value Added Tax increase. The BRC has reinforced the nationwide plea by many UK retailers not to raise the current 15 per cent to 17.5 per cent VAT at the end of the year, given it is the busiest and lucrative time annually for the high street, and could potentially damage thousands of businesses within the sector.
A report released by the BRC in May announced that the VAT cut to 15 per cent during 2008 cost the retail industry a staggering £90m to action, and when (as currently planned) the increase goes ahead in December, is likely to cost retailers the same again.
For some unknown reason the BRC are only requesting that the deadline be put back one month, but more significantly they want an instant freeze on all new business rate burdens and the reinstatement of empty property rate relief, as the many empty retail shop units in most high streets are a detriment to all retailers, looking to attract footfall.
“Changing VAT rates back to 17.5 per cent at the end of December will soak up a lot of effort at the busiest and most important time of the year for most retailers,” say Stephen Robertson, the Director General of the BRC. “For some shops post-Christmas sales were 50 per cent above normal, so it’s a time when staff should be focusing on serving customers. Re-pricing is very labour intensive and the need for overtime and bank holiday employees will make it a costly distraction for retailers. The Government should postpone the reintroduction of the 17.5 per cent VAT rate by at least a month.”
The VAT increase, combined with planned business rate rises and other rising costs, is likely to lead to further job losses. The retail sector has been the backbone of our economy for decades; providing one in nine UK jobs, so surely the Government needs to quickly recognise this and sustain the foundations and heritage that are now under serious threat of collapse.
Hazlemere Windows are one of thousands of businesses in the UK who could be affected by the increase. Paying the 17.5 per VAT wouldn’t just equate to a surge in their business rates, but could potentially lose us business. We provide windows, doors and conservatories to both the domestic and commercial customers, and are conscious the increase in VAT to 17.5% from 1st January 2010 could deter people from ordering in early 2010.
Mark Austin, Marketing Director, Hazlemere Window Company Ltd
“Whilst most businesses can claim most of VAT back, sadly the vast majority of Hazlemere Windows, Doors & Conservatories retail customers can not,” says Mark Austin, Marketing Director at Hazlemere. “Therefore any tax increase is clearly not an incentive to purchase retail goods to help stimulate the British economy.
Hazlemere Window Company supports the BRC’s initiative to delay the implementation of the VAT tax increase by a month, and would much prefer no increase until the retail economy was in a healthier position.”
CATAGORY|Commerce, Retail
BMW today laid off 850 “temporary workers” at it’s Mini factory in Cowley, Oxford today with only one hours notice. Some of the staff had been working their over 5 years. Current employment legislation entitles employers to sack temporary workers without notice or any redundancy pay, which is what BMW did to 850 of there staff today, not ideal PR for the company or indeed the Mini or BMW brands.
Apparently, sales of the Mini in the UK were down 35% in January, so BMW decided to act without any consultation with the Unions or their workforce. Whilst these job loses at a major employer just down the road might be financially justified, the manner of the annoucement and treatment of the 850 ”temporary workers” is not. It is good that none of the permanent BMW Mini workforce are being made redundant – yet! All car manufacturers BMW seem to have done is create a Mini crisis!
CATAGORY|Commerce
According to the BBC’s Business Editor Robert Peston (who broke the story on Northern Rock), UK banks could end up lending us more than they did during the boom times. On the face of it this seems crazy, but if you read Robert Peston’s blog dated 4th January 2009, he gives good eceonomic reasons why this may become a necessity, as well as a reality, in 2009.
A taxpayers insurance scheme for banks, according to Robert Peston’s article on the BBC News website on 4th Jamuary is under serious consideration. His article asks “Why would this encourage banks to lend more than they are doing at present?” and then goes on to give the two following very good reasons:
“First, the banks could take a bit more risk when lending, because the loss to them in the unlikely case that all the stinky stuff hit the fan at the same time would be knowable and manageable.” and
“Second, with the state sharing the risk, the banks’ capital ratios would look much healthier as their balance sheets expanded, because the formal regulatory risk-weighting of lending would be significantly reduced.”
Global financial markets all appear to be looking to shore up their home front, and therefore UK Banks are more likely to re-direct any loans they are prepared to make to the UK market where their money is going to be safest. It looks us British taxpayers who are going to guarantee the banks money, to give them enough confidence to lend us money to help regenerate the UK economy! Ironic huh!
CATAGORY|Commerce
It started with Woolworths, then MFI, then Zavvi, the Officers Club, Whittards of Chelsea, Adams and now, according to BBC News, the French women’s clothing store chain Morgan has gone into administration.
With the income of many High Street retailers shrinking, combined with massively reduced margins caused by rising costs and heavy discounting, it is clear many retailers simply will not be able to cover all their outgoings, particularly in terms of rental and staff costs. Many retailers are tied into long term leases that they may be unable to get out of without going into administration.
2009 will no doubt be a testing time for retailers, wholesalers and manufacturers who have high fixed overheads. Through prudent management and decades of successful trading, Hazlemere Window Company Ltd. is in the fortunate position of not only owning the freehold of its Head Office, Factory and Showroom, but having its entire manufacturing site at Cressex Business Park, High Wycombe, unencumbered.
This strong foundation, along with its largest ever order book going into 2009, is very comforting news to the staff and the thousands of Hazlemere Windows customers. The company’s positive balance sheet also enables it to negotiate the best possible deal on high grade raw material and with all its suppliers, so despite the challenging trading environment in the UK at present, the Hazlemere Group is more than well placed to weather the difficult economic times ahead.
CATAGORY|Commerce, Retail
Today marks the start of the closure of Woolworths’ 800 High Street retail stores in batches. More than 200 Woolworths stores to close later today.
Locally the Woolworths in Aylesbury, Maidenhead and Uxbridge close today, Amersham and Windsor Woolworths’ close down on 30th December 2008, Slough and Watford on 2nd January and the Woolworths’ stores in Beaconsfield, Bracknell, High Wycombe, Reading and Thame close in the final batch of closures of Woolworths high street retail stores on Monday 5th January 2009.
Unless a last minute buyer is found over 27,000 jobs will go by Monday 5th January, not the greatest start to the New Year. However my concern is that just like Northern Rock was the tip of the iceberg for the banking industry, is Woolworths simply the start of our High Streets changing forever? Since Woolworths announced £385m worth of unsustainable debt, MFI and Zavvi (formerly Virgin Megastores) have gone into administration, with another 15-25 chains under threat. When will we learn that you can not build a successful business on debt? Something that is coming home to roost big time in not just the UK but the Western World.
Today is an extremely sad day for all the employees in Woolworths retail chain, but also for the entire retail industry, as I fear it will lead to the reshaping of the High Street in this country, and possibly affect how, when and where we shop in the future. When the banking crisis at Northern Rock became apparent, not even the City was expecting the Worldwide implosion of the banking system requiring governments across the globe to step in to prevent financial meltdown. It would not be prudent for the UK government to step in, as the management failures of Woolworths are now evident for all to see. The difference between Northern Rock and Woolworths is that we now probably expect a collapse in the High Street? Deflation here we come?
CATAGORY|Commerce, Retail
With both MFI and Woolworth’s in administration, British retailing looks bleak, especially with others like Currys, PC World and Dixons saying profits are down. MFI seemed to lose their way several years ago when they tried to move up market away from their original marketplace, and instead of being able to buy goods and take them home you now have to order them and wait – No wonder IKEA have done so well as they have filled the void MFI for some unknown reason appeared to have vacated.
Unlike MFI, Woolworth’s is a High Street brand that would be very sad if it closed. Woolworths have 3 retail outlets local to Hazlemere Windows in Amersham, Beaconsfield and High Wycombe. Woolworths have been in the High Street in High Wycombe since 1969, and a major employer in the town, so it would be a blow if they do not come out of administration. There is an article about the current plight of Woolworth’s High Wycombe Superstore on the Bucks Free Press website by Business Journalist, Neil Phillips.
Retail outlets simply can not sustain their outgoings with rising utlilty charges, labour costs and “greedy” landlords wanting rent increases. If landlords want to insure against empty High Streets they will have to re-adjust their expectations, as even existing leases and covenants will be worthless if the businesses go into liquidation. Lets hope Worthworths is not the thin end of the wedge as Northern Rock was to the banking sector!
CATAGORY|Commerce, Retail
Hazlemere Commercial, a major Division of the Hazlemere Group recently secured a major £2.2m order for aluminium windows, doors and curtain walling at Bideford College in Devon. The contract will be delivered by Hazlemere Commercial in 2009 as part of a £44m redevelopment of the existing college campus by developers Morgan Ashurst, as part of the Governments Building Schools for the Future programme.
This is just one of dozens of sizeable contracts won in recent years by Hazlemere Commercial, who have a growing reputation amongst developers, local authorities, housing associations, architects and commercial property owners. Hazlemere Commercial’s specialist technical knowledge and unique capabilities is what sets them apart from run of the mill double glazing firms, as many of the case studies that have been done on past Commercial projects proves. Hazlemere Commercial’s “secret” is building excellent long term relationships with clients offering excellent customer service long after installation, but also preventative maintenance, saving clients future major problems by assisting with day to day repairs and restoration.
CATAGORY|Commerce, Windows & Doors
