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Increasing demand for premium fenestration products, such as vertical sliding windows, flush casements and high-end composite doors, has seen an explosion of specialist suppliers emerge in recent decades.
While the healthy consumer appetite for all things high-end presents a significant opportunity for installers, multiple supply partners can result in increased operational costs and in turn, reduced profits, according to Richard Hammond, Sales Director at Universal Trade Frames.
“Often, installers will go to different places that specialise in the various premium products they need; one supplier for vertical sliding windows, another supplier for composite doors, and so on,” explains Richard.
“For every specialist supplier they use, there’s associated admin and logistics which can be a headache for the installer trying to co-ordinate everything.
“There’s also an increased risk of delays from multiple deliveries, which can have a knock-on effect on the whole project. The result, is that what should be a high margin installation becomes significantly less profitable, and that’s where single-source supply comes in.”
Universal Trade Frames’ premium product offering includes the complete Residence Collection; Optima Flush from Epwin; the Spectus Vertical Sliding Sash Window; and the Spectus Fully Reversible and Tilt-and-Turn options. Solidor composite doors are another cornerstone of the range.
“Premium products are often installed at the same time, so getting everything for a job, including glass, on one delivery, makes life a lot easier,” continues Richard.
“If it’s all coming from one supplier, it makes things so much simpler. You’re streamlining the whole process by placing a single order, with everything on one invoice. This saves a significant amount of time – and for installers, time is money.”
Operating from its 30,000ft2 state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Shropshire, the Universal Trade Frames workforce includes a ‘special ops’ team of experienced fabricators, dedicated to the company’s premium product offering.
“Absolutely every product we make is manufactured with absolute precision through cutting-edge automation,” says Richard, “but our premium range of windows and doors require that little bit extra.”
“That’s where our specialist team comes in, because consumers expect a higher quality product – and a flawless finish – and that can only be ensured and maintained with a human touch.”
Offering the full Residence Collection, including R9, R7, R2 and the RD range presents installers with the chance to up-sell, as Richard explains: “We supply everything the Residence Collection offers from a single source,” he says. “That means our customers can pitch a fully matched R9 window and door to homeowners, which creates a great opportunity increase margin.”
For homeowners with tighter budget restrictions, Richard suggests that Epwin’s Optima Flush casement window is an ideal option.
“Our product range gives our customers the opportunity to up-sell at the most premium end, but still pick up the business if the homeowner’s budget doesn’t quite stretch that far, by offering Optima Flush.”
As the largest supplier of Solidor composites after Solidor itself, Universal Trade Frames manufactures the complete Traditional and Italia Collections in-house. All Solidor glass designs and hardware are available, as well as extra options for added differentiation. The doors feature multipoint locking as standard, plus Yale Platinum 3* cylinders.
Helping installers win more business with authentic details to attract the most discerning homeowners, Universal Trade Frames also supplies the Spectus Vertical Sliding Sash, designed specifically as a timber box sash window replacement.
Richard highlights how the option of an ultra-slim 37mm meeting rail makes it “virtually indistinguishable” from an authentic timber sash window, while a 128mm front to back depth, simplifies installation.
Specialist products, such as the Spectus Fully Reversible Window are also available from Universal Trade Frames as part of a single order alongside its standard or premium ranges, reducing the time spent chasing or anticipating multiple orders.
“Single deliveries reduce admin, waiting times and site delays, allowing installers to complete projects faster and take on more business as a result,” concludes Richard. “That kind of streamlining equates to real-world savings that can be a game-changer for your business model, and I’d urge all installers to maximise efficiency and profitability by switching to a single-source supplier today.”
