When Mark Creaby started a high-end glazing business in the home counties at the start of last year’s lockdown, his priority was to find a supplier that could match his ambition and exceptionally demanding standards. He found what he was looking for in Blackburn-based AluFold Direct, which has been supplying Mark’s fast-growing Open Square Glazing business with aluminium windows and doors for more than a year, and been a key element in its early success.
Open Square Glazing has been buying AluFold slimline casement windows, bi-fold doors and sliding doors – all on guaranteed short lead times and delivered direct to sites in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and now London. During that time, Open Square has added two full-time fitting teams, expanded to cover north London as well as the home counties, and opened a dedicated showroom in Eastcote.
Mark said: “We’re very much targeting the high-end domestic refurbishment market and small-scale premium developers. We provide design advice and full project management, as well as bespoke structural glazing works and supply and installation services. We’re concentrating on building a reputation which will win us recommendations and repeat business.
“We have to know, therefore, that our fabricator won’t let us down on product quality or on delivery. Even in the hectic market over the last year, AluFold Direct has always been there to rely on and we’ve been able to concentrate on growing the business without worrying about our supply chain.”
Mark added: “Russell Yates and the team at AluFold Direct have left us in no doubt that they will work hand in hand with us to help Open Square Glazing to grow even more over the next few years. There are all sorts of initiatives planned right across their product and service offering, and I feel confident that these will give our business a really valuable boost.”
One of these initiatives is AluFold Direct’s recently launched online quoting tool, which enables trade customers to get an instant price for nearly every product in the range via its new website. All customers need to do is enter their sizes, glazed or unglazed options and standard/non-standard colour options. The tool will then calculate a price and send it instantly by email. For users like Mark, it means they can generate quotes for customers at any time that’s convenient to them and update and requote as many times as they like before placing their order.
“We’re already buying windows and doors, and, thanks to the new quoting tool, we’re also pricing up projects with aluminium roof lights and sky lanterns as well, which will bring another new dimension to our business,” said Mark. “As lockdown restrictions finally start to ease, it feels like the sky is the limit for us.”
For more about Alufold Direct, visit www.alufolddirect.co.uk. Information about Open Square Glazing can be found at www.opensquareglazing.com.
