Comments for A Freefoam Blog http://freefoamblog.com Mon, 21 Feb 2011 14:57:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 Comment on 2011 – Interesting Times? by tonyfreefoam http://freefoamblog.com/2011-interesting-times/comment-page-1/#comment-117 tonyfreefoam Mon, 21 Feb 2011 14:57:02 +0000 http://freefoamblog.com/?p=121#comment-117 Hi Tony, I didn't mention Kestrel but now that you enticed me to look at their website I can see Dove White, Standard White, Brilliant White, Whitegrain and Cream. Keep well. Hi Tony,
I didn’t mention Kestrel but now that you enticed me to look at their website I can see Dove White, Standard White, Brilliant White, Whitegrain and Cream.
Keep well.

]]> Comment on 2011 – Interesting Times? by Tony crutcher http://freefoamblog.com/2011-interesting-times/comment-page-1/#comment-116 Tony crutcher Fri, 18 Feb 2011 23:11:49 +0000 http://freefoamblog.com/?p=121#comment-116 Tony Good try but you want find anying on the Kestrel web site. TC Feb 17 2011 11:42AM Freefoam Plastics Ltd Cork Ireland www.freefoam.com Tel: (021) 496 6311 Google Kestrel and "white" and "colour" and "customers" and "want" 12 00:31:54 Multi Visit Organic Company Announcements Tony

Good try but you want find anying on the Kestrel web site.

TC

Feb 17 2011 11:42AM Freefoam Plastics Ltd Cork Ireland http://www.freefoam.com Tel: (021) 496 6311 Google Kestrel and “white” and “colour” and “customers” and “want” 12 00:31:54 Multi Visit Organic Company Announcements

]]> Comment on 2011 – Interesting Times? by Tony crutcher http://freefoamblog.com/2011-interesting-times/comment-page-1/#comment-115 Tony crutcher Thu, 17 Feb 2011 08:27:00 +0000 http://freefoamblog.com/?p=121#comment-115 Who claimed they had 5 whites? Who claimed they had 5 whites?

]]> Comment on 2011 – Interesting Times? by Tweets that mention 2011 – Interesting Times? -- Topsy.com http://freefoamblog.com/2011-interesting-times/comment-page-1/#comment-114 Tweets that mention 2011 – Interesting Times? -- Topsy.com Tue, 01 Feb 2011 15:15:23 +0000 http://freefoamblog.com/?p=121#comment-114 [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Jane Rigby, Tony. Tony said: Interesting comment from Nick Dutton about colour on the Freefoam blog http://bit.ly/dXu3w1 [...] [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Jane Rigby, Tony. Tony said: Interesting comment from Nick Dutton about colour on the Freefoam blog http://bit.ly/dXu3w1 [...]

]]> Comment on 2011 – Interesting Times? by tonyfreefoam http://freefoamblog.com/2011-interesting-times/comment-page-1/#comment-113 tonyfreefoam Tue, 01 Feb 2011 11:29:11 +0000 http://freefoamblog.com/?p=121#comment-113 Yes and of course colour is a wonderful marketing opportunity. I am amused every time I remember one of our competitors who proudly proclaimed that you could have any colour you want provided it was one of his 5 whites! Yes and of course colour is a wonderful marketing opportunity.
I am amused every time I remember one of our competitors who proudly proclaimed that you could have any colour you want provided it was one of his 5 whites!

]]> Comment on 2011 – Interesting Times? by nick dutton http://freefoamblog.com/2011-interesting-times/comment-page-1/#comment-112 nick dutton Mon, 31 Jan 2011 17:26:17 +0000 http://freefoamblog.com/?p=121#comment-112 Colour will be one of the biggest trends in 2011. Homeowners love colour, and will buy it if it’s offered. Colour has been extremely popular with our customers. Most composite doors are white on the inside with colour outside, but demand for our new colour-both-sides door has been extremely strong. With new housing continuing to flag, and strong signs that people will be improving, not moving in the next few years, diversification will play an important role in helping companies grow, but so far only <a href="http://www.door-stop.co.uk/composite-doors.asp" rel="nofollow">composite doors</a> and bi-folds have emerged as major growth markets. The other big trend that I think you’ve skipped is marketing. We have been committed to <a href="http://www.door-stop.co.uk/blog/?p=501" rel="nofollow">marketing to customers</a>, and providing every advantage customers need to help them beat their local rivals to the sale from day one. We have our foot to the floor and it has driven our growth, and is driving our customers’ growth. Customers say we have a great range, quality and support and our <a href="http://www.door-stop.co.uk/door-delivery.asp" rel="nofollow">3 day door delivery</a> service is a knockout. But unless you market strongly and continue to tell people who would know? Colour will be one of the biggest trends in 2011. Homeowners love colour, and will buy it if it’s offered. Colour has been extremely popular with our customers. Most composite doors are white on the inside with colour outside, but demand for our new colour-both-sides door has been extremely strong. With new housing continuing to flag, and strong signs that people will be improving, not moving in the next few years, diversification will play an important role in helping companies grow, but so far only composite doors and bi-folds have emerged as major growth markets.

The other big trend that I think you’ve skipped is marketing. We have been committed to marketing to customers, and providing every advantage customers need to help them beat their local rivals to the sale from day one. We have our foot to the floor and it has driven our growth, and is driving our customers’ growth. Customers say we have a great range, quality and support and our 3 day door delivery service is a knockout. But unless you market strongly and continue to tell people who would know?

]]> Comment on 2011 – Interesting Times? by John Ogilvie http://freefoamblog.com/2011-interesting-times/comment-page-1/#comment-111 John Ogilvie Mon, 31 Jan 2011 10:23:52 +0000 http://freefoamblog.com/?p=121#comment-111 The economy looks increasingly difficult to predict but it isn’t going to be helpful to growth whatever happens. So, whether we grow or not is down to each of us. And over the last two to three years the market has been dividing up into those who get it and grow, and those who don’t get marketing and don’t grow. One of the biggest decisions a firm makes is where it chooses to compete. But even in an economy in the doldrums many sectors are growing. Choose a sector in decline and it’s like running up the down escalator. But choose a growth sector and you have a head start on other firms. Another big factor is continuity of direction. The effects of strategy and choosing where to compete take time to impact. People chop and change far too often before the effects have time to work their way through to market. People pooh-poohed the idea of Network Veka at the start but after 10 years pioneering it has put down strong roots and is now an unqualified success. Apart from quality products and depth of support the core Network Veka benefit is the quality of the brand and the marketing that enables members to sell more easily, capture a bigger share of their market and sell at a better margin than their competitors. It was a brave leap of faith in marketing to begin with, but the return on their investment for our parent company Veka and Network Veka members has been phenomenal. The economy looks increasingly difficult to predict but it isn’t going to be helpful to growth whatever happens. So, whether we grow or not is down to each of us. And over the last two to three years the market has been dividing up into those who get it and grow, and those who don’t get marketing and don’t grow. One of the biggest decisions a firm makes is where it chooses to compete. But even in an economy in the doldrums many sectors are growing. Choose a sector in decline and it’s like running up the down escalator. But choose a growth sector and you have a head start on other firms.
Another big factor is continuity of direction. The effects of strategy and choosing where to compete take time to impact. People chop and change far too often before the effects have time to work their way through to market.
People pooh-poohed the idea of Network Veka at the start but after 10 years pioneering it has put down strong roots and is now an unqualified success. Apart from quality products and depth of support the core Network Veka benefit is the quality of the brand and the marketing that enables members to sell more easily, capture a bigger share of their market and sell at a better margin than their competitors. It was a brave leap of faith in marketing to begin with, but the return on their investment for our parent company Veka and Network Veka members has been phenomenal.

]]> Comment on 2011 – Interesting Times? by Tony Pickup http://freefoamblog.com/2011-interesting-times/comment-page-1/#comment-97 Tony Pickup Thu, 27 Jan 2011 10:44:59 +0000 http://freefoamblog.com/?p=121#comment-97 Your predictions look plausible, Tony, but I’d add another on risk and the need for better protection. Having seen what damage financial and other, apparently once in a lifetime, disasters do to our economies and lives both businesses and consumers are far more sensitive to risk and its consequences. Unable to move house without mortgages, consumers need more living space. Homeowners are adding space and improving their accommodation but they can’t afford to waste money and time on improvements that need more money and time to put right. Consumers are more educated and aware of their rights and they want to be better protected. We will see a flight to safety in the home improvement market as homeowners respond to reliable installers who can offer them better protection and less risk with longer guarantees and consumer protection schemes like DGCOS that really protect. Your predictions look plausible, Tony, but I’d add another on risk and the need for better protection. Having seen what damage financial and other, apparently once in a lifetime, disasters do to our economies and lives both businesses and consumers are far more sensitive to risk and its consequences.

Unable to move house without mortgages, consumers need more living space. Homeowners are adding space and improving their accommodation but they can’t afford to waste money and time on improvements that need more money and time to put right. Consumers are more educated and aware of their rights and they want to be better protected.

We will see a flight to safety in the home improvement market as homeowners respond to reliable installers who can offer them better protection and less risk with longer guarantees and consumer protection schemes like DGCOS that really protect.

]]> Comment on 2011 – Interesting Times? by tonyfreefoam http://freefoamblog.com/2011-interesting-times/comment-page-1/#comment-89 tonyfreefoam Mon, 24 Jan 2011 15:59:02 +0000 http://freefoamblog.com/?p=121#comment-89 I couldn't agree more Martin about the need to fight our corner. There is way too much trashing of fellow suppliers. I suppose competition is competition but there is not enough uniting against our aggressive common detractors. Lets hope we see the change you project. I couldn’t agree more Martin about the need to fight our corner. There is way too much trashing of fellow suppliers. I suppose competition is competition but there is not enough uniting against our aggressive common detractors. Lets hope we see the change you project.

]]> Comment on 2011 – Interesting Times? by Martin Randall http://freefoamblog.com/2011-interesting-times/comment-page-1/#comment-88 Martin Randall Mon, 24 Jan 2011 15:31:26 +0000 http://freefoamblog.com/?p=121#comment-88 I fully endorse your prediction for colour, Tony. It is hard to dabble in colour and make progress which is why many window systems companies and trade fabricators have been reluctant to commit to it. But once a company does commit to colour and makes it easy for its customers to buy and sell it, colour sales surge as we found. Homeowners love the choice and possibilities and once an installer starts to offer it they sell a lot more colour, convert more sales and make a much better margin. One prediction you omitted, I believe, is the industry being much more committed to defending PVC-U and its own interests. For 10 to 15 years the industry has reacted passively or not at all to attacks from well meaning but woolly minded environmental lobbyists with half the facts and half the story and timber’s shock troops telling lies about PVC-U and stretching the truth about timber. The industry was complacent for too long believing that the material would sell itself and homeowners and specifiers would distinguish fact from fiction. But if no one stands up for PVC-U, the media and the public will believe what it hears and reads. And the proof has been in timber’s increasing share of a shrinking market and a falling share for PVC-U. Over the last two years the industry has realised it has to defend itself to stop this trend. After the scrapping of the BPF’s separate Window Group Marketing Committee a number of leading figures in the industry are getting together to begin the fight back with a more sustained, proactive and industry wide campaign. Your industry needs you! I fully endorse your prediction for colour, Tony.

It is hard to dabble in colour and make progress which is why many window systems companies and trade fabricators have been reluctant to commit to it. But once a company does commit to colour and makes it easy for its customers to buy and sell it, colour sales surge as we found. Homeowners love the choice and possibilities and once an installer starts to offer it they sell a lot more colour, convert more sales and make a much better margin.

One prediction you omitted, I believe, is the industry being much more committed to defending PVC-U and its own interests. For 10 to 15 years the industry has reacted passively or not at all to attacks from well meaning but woolly minded environmental lobbyists with half the facts and half the story and timber’s shock troops telling lies about PVC-U and stretching the truth about timber.

The industry was complacent for too long believing that the material would sell itself and homeowners and specifiers would distinguish fact from fiction. But if no one stands up for PVC-U, the media and the public will believe what it hears and reads. And the proof has been in timber’s increasing share of a shrinking market and a falling share for PVC-U.

Over the last two years the industry has realised it has to defend itself to stop this trend. After the scrapping of the BPF’s separate Window Group Marketing Committee a number of leading figures in the industry are getting together to begin the fight back with a more sustained, proactive and industry wide campaign. Your industry needs you!

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