The brickie cometh

Any trend has to have a lot of clout for a market analyst to call it a ‘disruptor’ but that is how Insight Data describes the ascent of the trade counter as a factor in the window industry equation. Rather more worrying for the traditional installer is that they are now being outnumbered nearly two to one by ‘builder-installers’ who are themselves helping to fuel the growth of the trade counter read the story here. I leave it for others to decide whether a brickie can earn the trust of the consumer by doing a good job with a window, door or conservatory – and I am sure there are those who can and those who cannot – but many traditional installers must see this burgeoning sector as a threat, even if only by sheer volume.

There were distinctly mixed messages on the housing front this week as we learn that May was either a good month or bad for housing new-build, depending on what you compare it with read the story here but that things are less cheery in the house sales market whichever way you look at it. read the story here

It’s always good news to hear that the industry’s very own Oscars are upon us again – the G 15 Awards website (click here to view) is now live and ready for entries into this year’s scheme and judging by the industry and social media chat, it’s going to be another bumper year with a great crop of entries and standards getting ever-higher as each year comes along.

Finally, how often do fabricators complain that their best work doesn’t get into their brochure because the surrounding building is too bland or too conventional – well, that isn’t a complaint you’re likely to hear from Mumford & Wood this week read the story here.

Whether you feel besieged by brickies, stuck in a stagnant housing market or wish your windows had been chosen for a gingerbread palace, we do hope you enjoy reading this week’s issue.

Chris Church Editor

Please send all your news stories to news@the-glazine.com

This Week's News

Trade counters and ‘builder-installers’ growing …but small fabricators still in decline

Trade counters have emerged as the industry’s surprise growth area with some regional depots showing ‘spectacular increases’ and more than 40 new depots opening in the last year, according to the latest report from Insight Data.

It also records a continuing decline in the number of fabricators, led by a sharp drop in ‘lifestyle fabricators’ – those making under 50 frames a week – which fell by 94 throughout the year. At the same time however, those producing over 500 a week increased by 15% to a total of 123.

The report clearly links the ascent of the trade counter to a growing army of ‘builder-installers’ – local builders who offer windows, doors and conservatories as an added string to their bow. These may be mostly small businesses but they now massively outnumber conventional installers with more than 22,000 compared with fewer than 13,000.

Read the Rest Here...

Housebuilding dips to
2015 low

Residential building reached a low-point for 2015 in May, with new contracts falling to 8,175, almost to half the January peak but this is seen as a short-term lull in a generally more optimistic medium term.

The figure, from Barbour ABI, is set against the latest Glenigan report (The Glazine, last week) showing a year on year peak for May – the only construction sector to show any growth – but in context of an even more sluggish May ’14.

Barbour says the construction industry is not likely to be fazed by the May figure as early indications show that construction had a strong start in 2015 with contracts awarded to build 49,7067 units in the first four months, as against 33,757 in the same period last year.

Read the Rest Here...

Houses for sale ‘at lowest for years’

The number of houses for sale in the UK has reached its lowest level for many years, according to the Halifax House Price Index published this week, but house prices continued to rise steadily as demand continues to outstrip supply.

Despite house prices edging down by 0.1% since April, the overall trend was an 8.6% annual increase in the quarter to May, or 2% on the previous quarter.

Halifax Housing Economist Martin Ellis added: “Housing supply remains extremely tight with the number of properties available for sale currently at its lowest level for many years. At the same time, ongoing economic recovery, increasing employment, real earnings growth and very low mortgage rates are all supporting housing demand.”

Read the Rest Here...

Optimism pushes ‘business distress’ to all-time low

Fewer businesses than ever are showing signs of ‘business distress’ as more and more show some signs of growth, according to figures from insolvency trade body R3.

Every indicator of distress tracked by R3 is at its lowest since the research began. 10% of businesses are experiencing decreased profits, 11% are experiencing falling sales volumes, 6% are seeing market share fall, 8% are regularly using their maximum overdraft, and 6% are making redundancies.

Business confidence is strong with just 4% of businesses expecting their activity to decrease in the next year. 47% expect it to increase and 48% think it will stay the same.
R3 President Phillip Sykes said: “Having stayed constant throughout 2014, UK business distress levels have fallen once more. Many companies will feel they have successfully negotiated the trickier parts of the rapid economic growth we saw last year. As growth slows, businesses are less at risk of over-extending themselves.”

Read the Rest Here...

BFRC A++ Rating

Following last week’s report on the launch of the A++ Rating label and the back reference to the first ever A-Rated window in 2005, BFRC has asked us to point out that the window was not a single light but a vent and fixed dual light.