GRM Windows: A Fabricator Partnership Spanning Three Decades of Growth

REHAU_Partner Acquisition_Logo - 100075938

Fabricator	GRM Windows
Location	Pontyclun
Years with REHAU	30 Years

Pontyclun, South Wales is the home of fabricator GRM Windows. At just a 30-minute drive from Cardiff, it makes the perfect place for an SME to serve the capital, while still benefitting from the tranquillity of the countryside.

This year, GRM is celebrating its 45^th anniversary, having also spent 30 of those years as a REHAU partner. This three decade-long partnership is a tale of longevity, trust and constant innovation. After all, there must be more than one reason why GRM and REHAU have stuck together for so long.

A First Mover: Taking the Initiative

REHAU is constantly looking for new ways to innovate its product range. But for fabricators, taking on any new product or switching supplier can always feel daunting. However, GRM are proof that taking the plunge can deliver long-term benefits. The company has always been among the first of REHAU’s fabricators to take on new products, testament to the level of trust that 30 years of working together has established.

Richard Gambling, Managing Director of GRM Windows says, “I’ve been working with REHAU since 1994 when we switched from another profile supplier. During this time, we’ve worked on lots of different projects with a wide range of REHAU products.”

GRM have taken on many new REHAU products over the past 30 years, but some recent examples include SLINOVA, ARTEVO and Window.ID. In fact, GRM was one of the first fabricators to take on SLINOVA and the very first to take on Window.ID. This has allowed GRM to reap the traceability benefits of the unique add-on for quite some time.

“I can say the same about ARTEVO,” says Richard. “The reception among GRM customers has been fantastic, especially those in our commercial markets. It has allowed us to tee up many large business projects, including with housing associations, who are excited about the product’s 100% recyclable properties and sustainability credentials.

“It’s the traceability that they get with add-ons like Window.ID that our commercial customers welcome with REHAU products” says Richard. “Assigning a unique ID to each window allows us to monitor the status of installations via a digital dashboard. This allows us to continually deliver excellent customer service, while also having total control over what information is made visible.

“REHAU’s innovation and dedication to improving product offerings has meant we can tick all the boxes that matter to us and our customers. Thanks to REHAU’s constant innovation, we’ve been able to continue reaping all the benefits.”

The Secret to a Long Relationship

A thirty-year partnership is no mean feat. It requires hard work and dedication from both sides, but most of all, it relies on fabricators feeling more than satisfied with the service they receive and the products they produce.

Richard says, “We’ve never had any reason to change from REHAU, and any issues we’ve had have always been solved quickly. The service has always been excellent, and the onboarding process was easy and filled us with confidence about the journey ahead of us. I’ve switched supplier before and it’s not to be taken lightly, but the support and long-term value that REHAU provides is more than enough to make up for any short-term inconvenience.

“The REHAU authorised partner scheme is also really great for our business. It means we can bring our customers into the fold, and they become part of our relationship with REHAU. It is a great point of differentiation between us and other suppliers and is one of the reasons why we’ve experienced such huge growth over the past three decades.”

And it’s not only GRM who have noticed the benefits of such an evergreen partnership, as Gareth Thomas, Area Sales Manager at REHAU explains, “the relationship with GRM is fascinating. They’ve been very innovative and have taken on lots of new products which have brought their business success.

“Over three decades of introducing a variety of new products, we always work closely with GRM to answer their questions and give guidance. REHAU have provided technical support for the company in a variety of different ways. We have introduced the team to different types of software when onboarding new products and have helped with their tooling, sending one of our technical team to GRM’s site whenever they need extra support or training. We’ve also supported GRM directly on commercial projects with things such as drawings and specification. I also like to drop by to the site frequently– it’s always nice to see our fabricators’ friendly faces.

“But above all, one of the key reasons for the success of this partnership is the relationship GRM have with our Trade Sales Manager. This strong line of communication has led to the specification of many projects which has helped get both REHAU and GRM into the marketplace. James McLauchlan, Trade Sales Manager for REHAU, targets specific installers and funnels appropriate leads toward the business. It’s a win-win for everyone involved.”

Keeping it Fresh After Thirty Years

After such a long length of time working together, everyone who works at GRM has come to know the REHAU team, and the products, very well. Abi Osborne, Office Manager at GRM Windows, says, “REHAU is a well-known, quality profile and it’s liked by both homeowners and tradespeople. We’ve been dealing with REHAU for some time now, and we love working with them.

Their marketing support is also great. REHAU has helped us with all our branding, providing us with samples and brochures that we offer to our customers. The company website is also packed with information that we refer to if we need.

“My personal relationship with the REHAU team is great. Gareth always checks in to see that we’re all okay and our Sales Coordinator, Sue Sanderson, is always at the end of an email or phone if we need help, we know we can get in touch with REHAU straight away. They’re just a friendly bunch and are always happy to help!”

The GRM relationship with REHAU has not fizzled out or lost its spark after thirty years. If anything, the excitement for what the future holds and opportunities for growth have made the partnership even stronger. Here’s to the next three decades!

For more information on switching to REHAU window profiles, click here.