Nineteen major fenestration suppliers have joined together to spell out to the impact of Covid and subsequent supply chain, energy and staffing issues in an open letter calling for a united front of solidarity from the rest of the industry in weathering the storm together.
The bosses of companies including Clayton Glass, Conservatory Outlet, Consort, Emplas, Glazerite UK Group, Nationwide Windows & Doors, Solar Frame and Sternfenster, lay out the problems facing businesses, acknowledging the impact on their customers and adding that they are working improve forecasting and communication.
They go on to assure customers facing the sudden price rises that: “Only those costs that can’t be fully absorbed are passed on, and, in all cases, limited to the lowest extent possible. “This must be an approach taken by every level of the supply chain, with the focus moving away from undercutting rivals to focusing on long-term sustainable business planning.”
One of the signatories, Clayton Glass MD Ryan Green said: “I don’t think anyone could have prepared us for what has happened in the last twenty months – from having to close due to Government guidance and making our factories Covid-19 secure to then having to scale up to cope with what has been a 130% increase in demand for many of us
“It would have been a big enough challenge on its own, but we are having to achieve this against a backdrop of global shortages in our core materials, workforce uncertainty due to isolation/a lack of workers and now rising prices across the board.”
He concluded: “The letter isn’t a sob story, it’s more a case of trying to give our customers and, in turn, their customers, a clear insight into what we are all dealing with. It’s not one company doing something wrong, these issues are affecting all of us.
“We will continue to work round the clock to deliver a product and service that clients are happy with, and we are confident that together we will correct these issues and things will stabilise – it’s just the timing that is currently uncertain.
“If any industry can adapt and emerge from this year stronger than ever, it’s ours.”
Signatories to the letter, include:
- Ryan Green – Clayton Glass
- Greg Kane – Conservatory Outlet
- Steven Williams – Consort
- Jeff Hooson – Custom Glass
- Dan Sullivan – Doorco
- Ryan Johnson – Emplas
- Kevin Harvey – Future Products
- Jeff Dunn – Glazerite UK Group
- Mark Rowland – Lancashire Trade Frames
- Roy Frost – Lister Window Systems
- John Whalley – Nationwide Windows & Doors
- Paul Williams – Northern Express Glass
- Jeff Walsh – Pearl Windows
- Chris Cooke – Prefix Systems
- Guy Hubble – Regalead
- Steve Jones – Sierra Windows
- Steve Taylor – Solar Frame
- Mike Parczuk – Sternfenster
- Sean Parnaby – West Port Timber Windows & Doors
Download and read the open letter here
