Today’s spotlight is on Wayne Johnson, one of our Sales Managers who works out of our Ipswich Double Glazing & Conservatory show centre.

 

How long have you worked for SEHBAC?

8 years.

 

How did you get into the industry?

Originally I was in the building trade. I then worked for another double glazing company for 9 years, before joining SEHBAC in 2001.

 

Which towns / areas do you cover?

Most of my work’s in Haverhill, Thetford, Bury St Edmonds, Stowmarket, and Ipswich; but I also occasionally cover towns outside this area.

 

Which products do you sell?

The full range - double glazing, conservatories, doors, fascias, soffits and guttering. 

 

What do you think consumers are most interested in when it comes to purchasing windows and conservatories?

It’s a combination of quality and price. But particularly at the moment, the market is really very price driven.

 

Have you seen a trend towards people being more interested in environmental issues / savings on heating bills?

Yes, there is a trend towards this, particularly with the introduction of window energy ratings - but I think that consumers are still struggling to understand what the ratings actually mean, and what the real difference is in terms of energy savings for an ‘A’ rated window, versus a ‘C’ rated window.

 

What’s the best thing about working in the industry?

The best thing about the job is definitely the people - obviously my role’s very customer facing so it’s just as well I enjoy that aspect! 

 

What do you do for fun?

I ride motorbikes; mostly I do off-roading. I’ve been doing it for around 15-20 years. 

 

Who would you get to play you in a film of your life?

Brad Pitt.

 

Your home is on fire, you can save only one thing - what do you save?

Let’s see - the wife, the kids, the dog… I really can’t pick just one - can I save them all?

 

 

If you were a superhero - what would your superpower be?

I’d love to be able to fly.

 

PVC or Hardwood?

Although PVC is great because it doesn’t require any maintenance, for me it’s got to be Hardwood - just for the way it looks.

 

What’s the biggest misconception you face in your line of work?

I think that lots of people are still very suspicious of double glazing salespeople - many people think that we’re all liars! Unfortunately the industry still has a bad reputation. 

 

What industry improvements do you think will come about next?

I think we’ll continue to see more energy efficient windows being developed - it’s definitely going to be something consumers will be increasingly interested in.

 

How has the internet changed your job? (if at all)

We get lots of our leads from the internet now, it’s also made it much easier for customer’s in terms of research.

 

What are the biggest challenges the industry faces?

Probably saturation - the market’s shrinking as lots of people have already had double glazing installed. That said people are replacing some old double glazing for more energy efficient alternatives.

 

What are you most looking forward to in the next 12 months?

Holidays! I’ve not booked anything yet, but as Summer’s been a bit of a non-starter I’m keen to get away for a bit of sunshine.

 

Image credit wikipedia

Today’s spotlight is on Andrew Briggs, the Technical Manager for SEHBAC. He splits his time between our Double Glazing and Conservatory factories in Ipswich and Romford.

 

 

How long have you worked for SEHBAC?

 

I started in May 1989, so 20 years.

 

How did you get into the industry?

 

I’ve always worked in the manufacturing side of the business rather than being customer-facing. Like most people I started working for SEHBAC by responding to an ad in the local paper. They were looking for a line inspector (quality control), in the double glazing factory.

 

I then got put into the testing department, where all of our products are tested - e.g. glass is tested to ensure it doesn’t shatter, doors and windows are tested for security, etc.

 

I then moved into head office, in the replacement parts department, for three years.

 

The role then became more technical as the business changed, and I went into managing the manufacturing software, for the machinery in the factory. Basically I dealt with translating customer orders into our manufacturing system, to create bespoke windows, doors, conservatories etc.

 

Now I’m totally technical, so I still manage the manufacturing software, and oversee any customer queries of a technical nature. I also deal with technical issues in the factory, and the creation of any new products. I also get involved in pricing etc, it’s a very varied role which I really enjoy.

 

Which towns / areas do you cover?

 

I divide my time between Romford and Ipswich where our two factories are.

 

Which products do you sell?

 

I don’t sell per se, I help the salesman meet our customers technical requirements. But I’m obviously involved in the technical side of the manufacturing of all of our products - double glazing, doors, conservatories, fascias and soffits.
 

What do you think consumers are most interested in when it comes to purchasing windows and conservatories?

 

I often get queries about energy ratings and security, people who are trying to compare quotes often require more technical details to ensure they are comparing like for like.

 

What’s the best thing about working in the industry?

 

The people!

 

What do you do for fun?

 

I’m really into photography and music and of course spending time with my family. I have two children, aged 14 and 11.

 

Describe yourself in five words.

 

Efficient, happy, helpful (occasionally!), reliable, friendly.

 

If you weren’t in double glazing/conservatories what would you be doing?

 

I’d love to be able to do photography full time.

 

Who would you get to play you in a film of your life?

 

Ben Stiller.

If you could have lunch with anyone, alive or dead who would it be?

 

Elvis Presley.

 

Your home is on fire, you can save only one thing – what do you save?

 

My hard drive (and my family, obviously).

 

If you were a superhero – what would your superpower be?

 

I’d love to be able to control time, so I could fit a few more hours in the day.

 

PVC or Hardwood?

 

PVC – it’s maintenance free!

 

What industry improvements do you think will come about next?

 

I think we’ll see leaps in the thermal efficiency of double glazing, which will allow people to save more money on their heating bills.

 

I also think that we’ll see greater improvements in security of windows and doors, it’s certainly something which I’m asked about a lot.

 

Has the internet changed your job?

 

Yes, it’s now much easier for people to find information – particularly with regard to things like building regulations.

 

What is the biggest challenge the industry faces?

 

The pressure to continually innovate - coming up with new ideas, new products, etc.

 

What are you most looking forward to in the next 12 months

 

Further new product developments… Oh and Christmas!

 

 

 

Elvis Presley image - wikipedia

Today’s spotlight is on Martin Dunnett, who manages our Suffolk team, and works out of our Ipswich Double Glazing and Conservatory Show Centre.

How long have you worked for SEHBAC?

20 years. Prior to working for SEHBAC I worked for two or three other double glazing companies. Before that I used to work for Ipswich Borough Council in their social housing department.

How did you get into the industry?

I was made redundant from Ipswich Council, and at the time I’d really had enough of the public sector and wanted a change. I saw that Zenith were looking for staff, so I thought I’d try my hand. Despite really liking the industry I left Zenith because I didn’t believe in the high pressure sales tactics that they wanted us to employ. I finally settled at SEHBAC (or SEH as it was then), because I much preferred their approach to selling.

Which towns / areas do you cover?

As the Sales Manager I’m in charge of the Ipswich, Chelmsford and Colchester showrooms; and cover Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire & Essex (down as far as Chelmsford).

Which products do you sell?

Now my job is to manage the sales teams, so I don’t sell as much anymore; but I used to sell Double Glazing, Conservatories, Fascias, Soffits, Doors - the lot!

Now I only sell to my own customers. As I’ve been here for 20 years; some people ask for me, as I’ve sold to them in the past, it’s nice to continue the relationship, so I’ll sell to those people, but will pass the new customers on to my sales team.

What do you think consumers are most interested in when it comes to purchasing windows and conservatories?

Value for money! But people are also interested in getting the right product, be it a conservatory, double glazing etc, and of course they’re keen to make sure that the workmanship is up to scratch.

Ultimately they’re looking for a reliable company that they can trust. 

Have you seen a trend towards people being more interested in environmental issues / savings on heating bills?

I have seen a trend towards people asking about heat insulation values, but I think that people are unsure of the difference between the various window ratings. I think that there’s still a job to be done in terms of educating customers, as window ratings are a little more complex than the rating which they place on white goods which are arguably easier to understand.  

What’s the best thing about your job?

Every day is different, and brings about new challenges which I enjoy. I’m a people person, which you definitely have to be as it’s a very customer facing role. I also like that it’s not strictly office based, and it’s certainly not 9 to 5.

What do you do for fun?

I play Bridge - funnily enough quite a few members of my Bridge Club are customers.

I’m also an Ipswich Town season ticket holder, so between football, Bridge and my five children I’m kept pretty busy!

If you weren’t in double glazing/conservatories what would you be doing?

I’d probably still be in social housing, or perhaps in another sales job.

Who would you get to play you in a film of your life?

Clint Eastwood. Because I really like him as an actor.

If you could have lunch with anyone, alive or dead who would it be?

Jimmy Page, guitarist from Led Zeppelin. I’m a big fan.

If you were a superhero - what would your superpower be?

I’d like to be able to read people’s minds.

PVC or Hardwood?

When it comes to double glazing, I’d choose Hardwood for looks, but PVC for practicality.

What’s the biggest misconception you face in your line of work?

Some people think that all double glazing salesman are rogues, and indeed some are. Of course at SEHBAC we don’t employ those sort of dishonest practises, but unfortunately the industry is still blighted by those that do. 

What industry improvements do you think will come about next?

I imagine that in the not too distant future we’ll see window manufacturers moving away from UPVC to another material - e.g. composite windows. We already do composite doors, and the potential for a wide range of colours and finishes is much broader.

We’re also seeing aluminium making a comeback; mainly due to commercial demands; but also because of the look, - it has a slimmer profile, and sleeker lines - it can also be made any colour you like. We’re having an aluminium orangery installed in the Ipswich show room later this year, and Chelmsford will follow.

What are the biggest challenges the industry faces?

I think we do need to stamp out the rogue traders, they give the industry such a bad name.

I also think that at some point we’ll see a saturation of UPVC windows - because they last a long time - people won’t need to replace them. I think that as an industry we’ll need to diversify and offer other products.

 

Clint Eastwood image Wikipedia

This morning, BBC Breakfast reported a new initiative by police in Northamptonshire.

In an attempt to cut the rising number of burglaries, the police there are patrolling the streets using a loud hailer to encourage people to keep their windows and doors locked.

It may seem a little extreme, however it’s an important message to get across. The need for adequate security - e.g. doors and window locks has been emphasised by the police in recent weeks. This is particularly pertinent as police in North Leeds and Dorset have reported a spate of ‘distraction burglaries’.

Distraction burglaries are when one or more individuals will engage the homeowner in some way (e.g. by trying to engage them in conversation - hence the distraction), whilst one or more others will try to gain access to the property (normally via an open window or unlocked door).

Once inside the burglars will take any items which are easy to carry - e.g. purses, wallets, handbags, car keys, jewellery and so on. Sadly the victims of these sort of crimes often don’t realise what has happened to them for several hours, therefore leaving the perpetrators with plenty of time of abscond.

For the most part burglars are opportunists, so the best way to avoid being targeted is to take reasonable steps to make sure your home is secured. It goes without saying that you should always keep your windows and doors locked when you leave your home, but it’s also worth being security conscious even when you are at home.

Take a look at our top ten security tips:

1. When you leave your property double check that it is properly secured.
2. Keep your backdoor locked at all times (unless you’re actually out enjoying your garden!)- particularly if it’s easy to access the rear of your property. You might think is fine to leave it unlocked when you’re home, but if you’re upstairs you might not hear someone sneaking in.
3. Don’t leave ground floor windows open if you’re not in the room - you’re making it too easy for someone to enter your property.
4. Never leave keys, wallets, purses, jewellery or other valuables near open windows - someone could simply reach in and help themselves.
5. Get to know your neighbours, and look out for each other.
6. Try not to advertise the fact that you’re going away on holiday - if at all possible have someone pop into your property now and again whilst your away to open and close curtains and make the place seem inhabited.
7. Beware of distraction burglar’s tactics - if you are suspicious of someone do not get engaged in conversation with them, politely but firmly make your excuses.
8. If the rear of your property is easily accessible via side gate (or similar) invest in a decent lock - and make sure it is secured at all times.
9. Invest in secure locks for your home e.g. deadlocks for external doors and locks for your windows and so on. 
10. Never leave spare keys under doormats / in flower pots etc - it’s the first place burglars will look.

You might also like to read the Home Office’s an excellent guide to Home Security for more hints and tips.

Here at SEHBAC we take home security very seriously. All of our double glazed windows benefit from the very latest in security features including multi-point locking systems with up to six locking points, and all SEHBAC doors are fitted with the latest multipoint locking systems, and are designed to endure sustained attempts to gain entry. 

If you’re thinking about replacing your windows and / or doors, and would like to talk to someone about security options why not call us on 0800 666 444, drop in to one of our show centres or arrange a home visit. Our staff will be happy to talk through the options with you, and offer guidance in selecting the right solution for you.

 

Image credit altemark

Historically, we’ve seen that during periods of recession, crime tends to increase. As such, in the current economic climate, many homeowners are understandably concerned about increased crime, and unhappily, the latest figures from the Home Office may bear these fears out.

This week, Glass Times (a glazing industry publication) reported that:

The Home Office figures for July-September 2008 showed an increase in reported domestic burglaries; and for the last four months of 2008, 31 police forces across England and Wales also reported a rise in burglaries - with 55,572 more cases of acquisitive crime taking place during those months, than for the same period on 2007. The last sustained rise in the burglary rate was back in the mid 1990s.

Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith warned of this in a leaked memo to Gordon Brown: “Our modelling indicates that an economic downturn would place significant pressure on acquisitive crime and therefore overall crime figures.”

So, what can homeowners do to ensure that their homes and possessions are adequately protected?

Well, whilst it might sound obvious - make sure your home is properly secured when you leave it. Make sure all windows and doors and closed and locked, as many burglars are opportunists - so if your home looks properly secured it may deter them.

Secondly, take precautions to secure any potential access point to your home. For example, if your property can be accessed via a rear or side gate, consider how this could be made more secure - e.g. invest in a sturdy padlock to secure it, or consider replacing the gate if it cannot be adequately secured currently.

Perhaps most importantly, invest in secure locks for your home - for example: 

1. Deadlocks for external doors
2. Secure locks to windows
3. Secure window shutters

Here at SEHBAC we take home security very seriously. As such, all of our double glazed windows benefit from the very latest in security features including multi-point locking systems with up to six locking points.

Likewise all SEHBAC doors are fitted with the latest multipoint locking systems, and are designed to endure sustained attempts to gain entry. 

If you’re thinking about replacing your windows and / or doors, and would like to talk to someone about security options why not call us on 0800 666 444, drop in to one of our show centres or arrange a home visit. Our staff will be happy to talk through the options with you, and offer guidance in selecting the right solution for you.

Image credit fotographix.ca