PILKINGTON ACTIV™ BLUE GIVES SHOWSITE THE ‘WOW’ FACTOR
With winter nights drawing in, and challenging trading conditions in the glazing market, deciding on the best conservatory roof may not be top of everyone’s mind. But as one enterprising installing company has already proved by its creative use of Pilkington Activ™ Blue recently, it pays to be dynamic and plan ahead.
Housemaster, based in Potters Bar, has refurbished and extended its five-year-old showsite at the nearby Nottcut Garden Centre featuring no less than seven conservatories using Pilkington Activ™ Blue in the roofs. “We wanted to offer our customers the very best products and we believe Pilkington Activ™ is undoubtedly the best all-round performing product in today’s marketplace,” stated Clive Brimmell, Managing Director, Housemaster. “Housemaster conservatories are designed for use throughout the year and the properties of Pilkington Activ™ Blue are ideal. Our clients are particularly delighted with the self-cleaning properties and by combining Pilkington Activ™ Blue in the roof with Pilkington Activ™ Neutral in the side elevations, we can create a light and airy feeling of a summer day for our clients despite the weather outside. They love the light within the conservatories and the self-cleaning properties are so evident in the sparkling cleanliness of the glass which creates a ‘wow’ factor.”
Housemaster also realised that potential customers wanted to see a broader range of features in its conservatories and not a uniform design for all applications. “Our recent refurbishment of the site has allowed us to include features such as lantern roofs and orangery styles which are becoming increasingly popular,” explained Clive. “Pilkington Activ™ Blue has been used in every conservatory and the site is co-ordinated around a landscaped area, making it pleasant to visit and reinforcing the fact that Housemaster provides a comprehensive service including the landscaping. Being able to see Pilkington Activ™ Blue at first hand is impresses customers.”
Of course the recent economic turbulence might lead people to conclude that economizing would be the principle criteria for hard pressed customers with a limited spend. Encouragingly, Housemaster reports that there has been no real demand by visitors for a return to the polycarbonate alternative. “Despite the cost difference, polycarbonate increasingly looks (and sounds) like an outdated product appropriate to a low quality conservatory,” Clive stated. “We explain to our customers that there are inferior and cheaper products available – but if you want the best this is what it looks like and using Pilkington Activ™ Blue throughout is an integral part of that concept.”
Since Housemaster upgraded and extended the showsite/displays to incorporate up-to-date products, it has seen sales surge by 10%. It is certain its extensive use of Pilkington Activ™ Blue has been an integral part of that success.
