Glass News Interview Pearl Window Systems

PEARL WINDOW SYSTEMS CONTINUES TO DEVELOP ITS INSTALLER SCHEME AND ITS PRODUCTION FACILITIES

Glass News’s Publisher, Christina Shaw, and Editor, Chris Champion, conduct a virtual interview with Pearl Window Systems’ Jeff Walsh. Pearl is a longstanding fabricator that has taken its quality and service as a supplier to the next level by offering customers a well thought through, and execcuted, installer scheme.

Pearl Window Systems has grown over the past 24 years from a start-up fabrication business into a highly thought of super fabricator that is regularly producing 3,500 to 4,000 frames per week. But owner, Jeff Walsh and his team are believers in providing headroom not just for normal organic expansion but providing a service at a time of high demand. This time of the Covid 19 pandemic is a perfect example with the headroom provided across the business allowing for frame production to increase to 4,500 per week, if demanded. To maintain this level of production, I ask Jeff about his commitment to investment. Since 1999 there will have been many £millions sunk into Pearl Window Systems, but what about now? Is this the time to invest for the future? Jeff is very matterof-fact about this: with three factories and the latest opening in 2018 just prior to the world changing dramatically, you could understand some reticence about digging deeper into his pocket. That is not the case. In opening the foiling factory they had planned an investment programme over some 5 years but had quickly spent that budget in just under a year with a variety of machinery including a new Supercut, sundry welders and kit essential to an ever growing fabricator. In fact, they now have 7 machining centres and investment will be there as business demands.

Pearl has always prided themselves on a very high level of quality and service. Their customers rely on them to get the goods to them as scheduled and it is not unusual to see a Pearl Window Systems liveried vehicle hacking its way across the motorways of the country. The branding is memorable, and this is across the whole business from vehicles to websites and from leaflets to uniforms. It’s not surprising, therefore, that so many of Pearl’s installers have chosen to join the Signature Installer Scheme that gives the installer all the benefits of being part of a large and successful business while maintaining their own individuality. Installer schemes are not new, but Jeff was adamant that their scheme should provide big advantages for the installer whatever their size while not pushing rules and regulations down their throats! Do you want to adopt the Signature branding across your business? It’s entirely up to the individual. The point is that there is a wide choice for the installer. Glass News has talked to a number Pearl’s installers and most love the opportunity to adopt the Signature brand and comment on how, as a small installer, it amuses them when a customer comment on seeing ‘their’ lorries on the motorway! Branding can be individualised for each customer, if required, and this goes across the board: their own brochures, dedicated websites, QR code material et al. And it isn’t just for installers and a similar offer is available for trade counters, too.

Branding is by no means the only offering. What makes the Signature Collection so different is the unique tie up with CORGI Fenestration. The ability to immediately register a job, both with Building Control Certificates and Extended Warranty Certificates, and all within 48 hours is compelling. The extended warranty through CORGI is appreciated by the homeowner, especially as it is part of the scheme and is cost free to them. As far as the installer is concerned this helps the administration side enormously and anything that cuts down office work is to be applauded. And going further, the introduction of a new app that provides a virtual showroom together with a facility called DIGITAL CONNECT has been launched. This allows customers to track orders and delivery schedules at every step of the way, so they know exactly when their products will be arriving this is very much welcomed by their customer installers.

In talking with Jeff it is clear how much he and his team value their customers and, in many cases, relationships that have developed over many, many years. With the aid of the technology that Pearl has embraced with the Signature Collection Installer Scheme, it is fascinating to hear how orders and products are tracked such that windows or doors made many years ago can be replicated through the QR codes that are applied to the various components. Although the scheme looks to be complete it would not be a surprise to find other innovations coming to the fore: Pearl Window Systems and the Signature Collection Installer Scheme seems never to stand still!