As we start a new decade there remains no shortage of double glazing window companies looking for your business. However, you will no doubt want to make sure you choose a double glazing manufacturer, supplier and installer that is professional and reliable. So here are a few tips and things to consider to make sure any double glazing you buy lasts more than a decade!!
In these recessionary times, quite rightly, nobody wants to pay more than they need to, so it is important you do not put yourself under financial pressure by spending more than you can afford. Consequently, it is wise to get two to three quotes from different companies, not just for a price comparison, but more importantly for value for money, service and quality reasons. Following a visit by a sales consultant, a written quotation should be provided on a no obligation basis, then left with you for you think about in your own time and space, without you being in any way pressured to sign. Don’t fall for any “but if you sign today” gimmicks.
It is important you only deal with FENSA registered companies. The FENSA scheme ensures any window and door double glazing work is compliant with building regulations, so therefore should be proven and safe. You can check online on the FENSA wesbite to ensure that each of the companies you plan to obtain quotes from are FENSA registered.
With household energy costs soaring as energy becomes a more valuable resource, the Government and environmental groups are urging us to become more energy efficient for the sake of our planet and increasing financial outlay. Modern energy saving double glazing is now essential for any property. So if you are fitting your double glazing for the very first time, or wishing to replace older less energy efficient windows, finding a reliable company to manufacture and fit your windows is more important than ever, as high quality technologically advanced products are costly!
It is therefore a good idea, when chatting over new window requirements with a double glazing company, to ask them what written guarantee they will provide you with, plus more importantly, how they will “guarantee” to deliver it, both in the short and long term. It is probably worth asking how long have they been in business? Plus find out if they can produce genuine recent (and past) testimonials from satisfied customers that you can check up on. Also, do they have a showroom so you can see what you will get before you order?
Check who is actually going to make your double glazing (and where!), does the company have its own surveyors, fabricators, installers and service engineers (and are they all qualified and experienced?), or do they just sell to you and do the fitting, and maybe sub everything else out to who will do the work cheapest?
It is worth your while dealing with experienced expert manufacturers and installers, who will want to ensure (for both their own and your sake) that they both make and fit your made to measure replacement windows and doors correctly, as they will not want to have to return to correct any installation defects that arise, any more than you will want them to!
By taking your time in selecting a reliable double glazing company, you will help ensure that the windows and doors you have installed in your property are fitted properly and offer value for money over their lifetime, as in the long term, as long as you stay for a decent period of time in your property, the cost of energy efficient replacement windows will be offset by energy and financial savings.
It is therefore important to choose a company that you are certain will be around to handle any service issues that do arise during the guarantee period, so if years later you get the odd broken handle, lock or blown double glazed sealed unit, the repairs are carried out professionally under guarantee at no cost to you. Going for short term “savings” on cheaper installations can prove costly to you later if the company you went with purely to “save money” is no longer around to give you the customer service and deliver on their “guarantee” which you will want to last a decade. So, take your time to research the double glazing companies you have requested a quote from carefully, invest wisely, taking any potential medium and long term ramifications into consideration before selecting your investment partner of choice.
CATAGORY|Retail, Windows & Doors
In the past Hazlemere Window Company Ltd have only offered their Referral Rewards Scheme to existing customers. Now they have opened it up to anyone who has had work done, or knows of friends or neighbours that have had work done, as well as anyone wanting to recommend Hazlemere for the quality of their products, installations and customer service over the last 25 years. Find out more about the Referral Rewards Scheme along with details on each of the rewards on offer.
In addition, they have expanded the rewards on offer to include women’s hairdressing, men and women’s massages, facials, nails and a whole host of hair and beauty treatments at Oxygen Concept Salon and Beauty located on Gregories Road in Beaconsfield, Bucks. Those wishing to Register for the Hazlemere Window Company Referral Rewards Scheme can select to receive up to £75 of John Lewis Gift Vouchers, Oxygen Gift Vouchers or up to a dozen bottles of Laithwaites Wines.
Alternatively, Hazlemere have set in place the option to donate your rewards of between £15 and £75 to one or more of three registered charities with operations in Buckinghamshire. The three charities are the Iain Rennie Hospice at Home, Macmillan Cancer Support and Hearts & Souls. Feel free to Download a Referral Rewards Scheme Application Form
CATAGORY|Retail
Hazlemere Windows Head Office & Factory Staff Outside High Wycombe Bucks Showroom
Buckinghamshire’s leading home improvement specialists, Hazlemere Windows are holding a special open weekend to mark the start of their 25th Anniversary Celebrations. Hazlemere Windows, Doors & Conservatories are inviting anyone to come along to their showroom to enjoy a glass of champagne, Bucks Fizz or cup of real coffee, along with some canapes from Thursday 24th to Sunday 27th September.
The Hazlemere Group are literally throwing open their doors of their 4,000 square foot High Wycombe Showroom for this special open weekend, with complimentary refreshments being served during extended opening hours on Thursday 24th & Friday 25th September from 9am to 8pm, and then from 10am to 4pm on Saturday 26th September and 10am to 1pm on Sunday 27th September.
To celebrate 25 years in business in High Wycombe, Hazlemere Windows, Doors & Conservatories are offering some very special Autumn offers to those who come along to enjoy a glass of champagne or Bucks Fizz whilst discussing their home improvement requirements. If you are looking for the best value for money and also want to benefit by beating the VAT increase on 31st December 2009, why not come along during this special open weekend and get a free estimate, along with free independent home improvement advice from one of Hazlemere’s experienced industry specialists? Click here for directions to their showroom
CATAGORY|Retail, Windows & Doors
It may seem a long way off, but on 1st January 2010 VAT will increase to 17.5% from it current rate of 15%. This may not sound like much of an increase, but on a £20,000 new Conservatory or house full of double glazed windows and doors order, 2.5% represents a £500 increase to the customer.
Before tax and National Insurance the cost to tax paying clients of a £500 investment is probably nearer £800, so if you are thinking seriously of major home improvements and want to avoid paying the 2.5% VAT increase after 31st December 2009, then you really need to order very soon, particularly if you want a conservatory.
VAT is due at the tax point, which is when the goods are delivered, so in the case of replacement windows and doors or a new conservatory, when the installation is complete.
Given it can take up to three months to get planning permission or a Certificate of Proposed Lawful Development to build a conservatory on your home, and that it can take 6-8 weeks to build a conservatory, Hazlemere Conservatories are urging their customers who wish to avoid the VAT increase to order immediately.
HMRC have rules in place to prevent customers paying in advance to avoid paying the VAT increase, so the only way Hazlemere can assist its customers to pay the current rate of 15% VAT for their new conservatory is to get the planning application into our customers local council’s planning department ASAP and have completed the installation (after having first gained an approval) before 31st December 2009.
The same goes for windows and doors, and whilst the lead time on replacement or new double glazing is not as long as on conservatories, Hazlemere customers who want to be absolutely certain that their installation will be totally completed before the end of 2009 really need to order soon, as most customers are amazed when we advise them that delivery can be up to three months on certain products (other products are nearer two months delivery at present), which is due to the massive increase in demand for home improvements since January, when it seems home owners have decide to improve rather than move.
Obviously if hundreds of Hazlemere Windows, Door & Conservatories customers suddenly decide they all want to avoid the VAT increase, then delivery times will get even longer than they already are. Therefore, if you want to save money on planned major home improvements, now is the time to seriously consider ordering to ensure your project is completed prior to 31st December 2009.
CATAGORY|Conservatories, Retail, Windows & Doors
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
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
Polyester Coated Aluminium Windows in the Heritage Range Buttermilk Finish
Hazlemere Windows have added the Heritage Range of aluminium windows, doors and conservatories to their product range. As Independent Manufacturers, Hazlemere are able to offer a wide range of replacement double glazing profiles in both aluminium and UPVC. The Heritage Range is exclusive to Hazlemere Windows in the region, offering clients a very high quality sublimated aluminium wood grain effect product in distinctive wood grain effect oak, rosewood and walnut.
The oak, rosewood and walnut wood grain effects are sublimated into the aluminium at 200 degrees centigrade, so they actually become part of these extremely strong and robust window, door and conservatory double glazed frames. The Heritage Range also offers polyester coated aluminium finishes in 7 attractive colours, white, ivory, buttermilk, sage, hessian, slate grey and heritage green.
Homeowners looking for exceptional high quality double glazed windows and doors will not be disappointed by the Heritage Range. This unique exclusive product means property owners are not restricted to the traditional white and brown colours, which for so long have been their only option. Samples of each of these Heritage Range finishes are available from Hazlemere Windows 4,000 square feet showroom in High Wycombe, which is open 7 days a week.
CATAGORY|Conservatories, Home Improvements, Retail, Windows & Doors
