Wigan fabricator sees business growth one year after switching to full REHAU solution

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Fabricator	Orrell Windows
Location	Orrell, Wigan
Years with REHAU	12 Months

After 20 years in business, Orrell Windows were looking to take the next step with a new profile house. This is where the company’s journey with REHAU began. This partnership, which at the time of writing is just over a year old, has already produced some impressive results.

Founded in 2004, Orrell Windows had humble beginnings with one fitting team manufacturing windows and doors for local builders. Fast forward two decades and the company now has eight fitting teams and two service engineers.

Much of Orrell’s growth has been down to an exceptional personalised sales approach. The team welcomes customers into its showroom and manufacturing facility for a coffee and a chat. During this informal conversation, the team get to grips with the customer’s aims and start to walk them through their product offering. This attention to detail is an approach they also saw in REHAU.

Making the switch

The switch to a new profile house made perfect sense to Chris Swift, Orrell’s Operations Manager. “We’d been working with our previous profile supplier for quite some time, but something was missing. We were well aware of the REHAU brand and its reputation for quality throughout the industry. Something which has made my job a lot easier! People come in and already know the REHAU brand, so I don’t have to do much to sell the products because they sell themselves.

“We were definitely apprehensive about making the switch and were full of questions about what the process would look like,” added Chris. “And if I’m honest, we were also full of excuses for why we should delay the project. One of our biggest concerns was having all our machines recommissioned and what switching would mean for our factory setup. But that was before we met Trisha and the rest of the REHAU team.”

Initially, Trisha Naik, REHAU’s North West Area Sales Manager, spoke with Orrell Windows about the products she could offer the company. “My first conversation with Orrell was very ‘open book,’ where we discussed the company’s goals in terms of growth and what success looked like to them,” explained Trisha.

“This made the onboarding process seamless as I was able to understand their concerns and put them at ease, running the team through our process guide and the step-by-step journey we’d be taking.”

For Chris, Trisha gave the Orrell team that little push they needed to switch to REHAU, a decision they’re extremely glad they made. “The switching process was simple thanks to the fantastic technicians that visited us and carried out the tooling survey,” said Chris. “And even when we had to shut the factory for a couple of days as the changes took place, we were kept updated on progress and back operating in no time. It was truly a flawless transition.”

Prior to switching, Trisha showed Chris and the team some of the REHAU products that might be of interest to them and it’s safe to say they were bowled over – by all of them.

The complete package

During initial conversations, Trisha introduced the Orrell team to REHAU’s Authorised Partner Programme. “They are listed as one of our authorised installers, allowing potential customers to search for them through the scheme,” added Trisha. “For Orrell, it has led to an increase in leads from the local area and from a homeowner’s perspective, it gives them the reassurance the products they are purchasing are built and fitted to the correct manufacturing accreditations. Orrell, like all our fabricators, also work closely with our technical team to ensure compliance of products. This is a win-win for both our fabricators and their customers as homeowners trust the correct products are being used.

“Orrell decided to stock the entire REHAU range including Yale, trickle vents and steels giving their business an advantage in terms of having more products that are readily available. When we were discussing the onboarding process, Orrell mentioned they were currently dealing with a number of different suppliers. That’s when I introduced REHAU’s system offering which would only require the team to deal with us for a range of different components.

“And since Orrell is a fairly small team, this meant the amount of time they were having to spend on ordering per week could be reduced.”

Stocking the complete REHAU range and becoming a part of the Authorised Partner Programme has certainly had a positive impact on both the Orrell team and their growth targets.

“The wider package was really important to us because the industry is forever changing and growing, with new trends and colours appearing all the time,” said Chris. “From flush sash to standard sash, you’ve got to diversify and stock a varied range if you want to be a successful fabricator.

“REHAU makes the difference in this respect. The product range helps us to remain competitive in a tough fenestration industry and allows us to order everything in one go. The lead times on products are also clear so I know exactly when my order will be delivered.

“Since becoming part of the REHAU Authorised Partner Programme, we’ve seen great lead generation, and receive excellent marketing support from the REHAU team. It’s the little things that make a big difference. Like having stickers for our vans and a uniform for our staff. It just reinforces that we are a trusted fabricator working with a reputable supplier, providing homeowners with extra peace of mind.”

A relationship built to grow

Even in a short space of time, the feedback from both customers and the Orrell Windows team has been overwhelmingly positive.

“I’ve always been very proud of what we do here at Orrell,” said Chris. From the quality of the products we supply to the level of output from our factory. But in the past year, it’s like REHAU has given us that extra boost we were missing.

“I remember when we made the first REHAU window. Our factory manager brought it to me and I was blown away, the quality was amazing. I am now absolutely committed to the reliability REHAU products offer our customers.

“So, my advice to any fabricators who are considering moving over is don’t hesitate. Just do it. If you’re in this industry and care about the quality of your product then make the switch. You won’t regret it.”

Speaking about the relationship she has built with REHAU, Trisha said, “The partnership with Orrell over the last year has been everything I could have hoped for and more. The team are a pleasure to work with and if they’ve ever got any queries, they know I’m at the end of the phone. I’m really looking forward to what the future brings for Orrell and REHAU!”

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