CVD Commercial Glass and Aluminium Windows

CVD: A business story that’s worth sharing, liking, and following

You’d be forgiven for assuming that sharing photos and videos of aluminium and glazing work on social media wouldn't be worth the trouble; but Chris van Dijk of CVD Commercial Glass and Aluminium Windows jumped on to digital marketing a few years ago, and the business hasn’t looked back since.

‘Three years ago, my wife was using social media to showcase the work of her beauty salon “Lash Esthetica” and their positive results convinced me I should at least try social media for CVD’, explains Chris, who started the company in 2011 in a tiny factory alongside his glazier father and supportive mother.

CVD has steadily built a strong online presence via website SEO, which has seen them climb to the top five organic search results under multiple relevant search options. This presence on Google is a vital step to helping people find out more about CVD’s aluminium windows and commercial glass service before making a purchasing decision. ‘The use of online tools and social media is extremely important, in my opinion’ says Chris. ‘Clients can see our work to get inspired and build trust in us, plus we can contact potential clients through this media.’

CVD uses a photographer to help shoot content, then a digital agency to create their posts and schedule them to platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Tick Tok and LinkedIn, and soon they plan to create YouTube shorts. ‘My favourite platform would have to be Instagram because you can see photos and videos of projects and other companies' works’, says Chris.

Working his way up from the bottom as an estimator and installer, Chris has in-depth knowledge of every system in the business, giving him the ability to pick up issues with architect drawings, assist specification teams at Alspec and ensure designs are fully compliant. ‘Besides our passion for what we do, our main business advantage is that we value compliance. The door and window industry is not government regulated, so there are many companies providing services that don’t fully comply with Standards or requirements’, Chris explains. ‘Our team members are all very proud to be working for CVD and take great pride in quality workmanship. We don’t cut corners and we will not manufacture or install a system or product which is non-compliant.’

This passion and workmanship shines through CVD’s social media accounts on a daily basis. ‘The visibility social media gives us is extremely beneficial, because it’s a platform where we can showcase our projects and market our company and services in a cost-effective way. We’ve reached out to many new customers and gained new business through social media. It also attracts highly skilled tradespeople and staff who, after seeing our social media, want to come across and work for our company — an added benefit I hadn’t anticipated!’ adds Chris.

‘I would have to say the strongest pieces of content we’ve produced are the ones that keep the viewers entertained: how to’s, tips and tricks, and most importantly showing the process of how we do the work’, explains Chris. ‘Client reviews are also extremely valuable for potential clients to gain an understanding on how the business has performed.’

CVD specialises in the difficult projects that others are unable to do due to complexities. Chris puts this down to his licensing and accreditation. ‘I have undertaken the AFRC simulator training as well as multiple AGWA courses and I am a qualified Glazier and have a Master security licence’, he remarks.

One of CVD’s most memorable jobs was for St Luke’s Grammar School in Sydney, where CVD was engaged to design and install a curtain wall system spanning 15 m high and 18 m wide curving around the building. ‘This project was highly engaging for our Instagram audience.’ CVD assisted Alspec in the design phase as well as the V6 software to produce the fabrication sheets and was the first ever to manufacture this in Australia, and install this system in Sydney.

And it’s not just online that’s keeping Chris and his marketing team busy, there’s lots happening offline for CVD over the next 12 months too: In June they will move into a larger 950 m2 factory to better service their growing number of happy and engaged clients; they will open a new showroom to display high end residential ‘Carinya 92 mm Select’ range of window systems; and CVD is sponsoring the Penrith Panthers, a deal that includes behind goal post signage (which is ironic since their first-ever job was installing water polo goal posts!) and signage on two buses in the Katoomba and Penrith areas.

Combining passion, compliance, and a determination to grow their brand online and offline, we look forward to following, liking, and sharing the CVD story for many years to come.