Focal In Felixstowe

A&B Glass has made Gerda’s steel and aluminium entrance doors the focal point of its new showroom in Felixstowe…and seen massive boost in enquiries.

The new premises have generated an unexpectedly high number of visitors who have shown an interest in both the Gerda door range and A&B’s wider range of PVC-U and aluminium windows, doors and home improvement products.

Its early success underlines the continuing importance of giving retail customers a tangible, personal experience when investing in premium products for their home.

Customers come first

A&B Glass Home Improvements is the dedicated retail division of A&B Glass Company which manufactures in Sudbury in Suffolk. Director Steve Stone said: “Technology is transforming the way we work, yet it hasn’t changed what our customers value most, which is a personal service. That understanding is instilled across our workforce and shapes the way we deal with every customer.

“The showroom gives people the opportunity to visit us, see and feel the products, ask questions face-to-face and receive straightforward advice from an open and friendly team.

“The Gerda door is particularly well suited to this environment. We’ve long recognised the importance of the ‘Thunk’ – that reassuring sound and solid feeling when a well-engineered door closes. Gerda delivers it exceptionally well. When customers operate the door for themselves, they immediately understand that this is something different.”

FIT Show meeting

A&B Glass first encountered Gerda at the FIT Show. Having already established a working relationship with Gerda door distributor Pioneer Trading Company, it was an easy and natural step when the company began looking for a contemporary entrance door to complement its aluminium window and door offering.

“The Gerda range has enabled us to introduce a much more contemporary proposition to sit alongside our aluminium window system,” continued Stone. “It won’t necessarily be the right door for every homeowner but it has certainly opened more doors for our sales team and sparked a great deal of interest.

“It is an exceptionally well-engineered product in terms of its design, construction and security. Most importantly, when you close it, it gives you that instinctive feeling that you and your home are safe. You can describe that in a brochure or show it in a video but experiencing it in person is far more powerful.”

Felixstowe decision

The decision to establish the showroom in Felixstowe was driven by a combination of commercial opportunity and the company’s longstanding connection with the area.

“Felixstowe just felt right,” explained Stone. “It is a vibrant seaside town with a great deal of history. Our family has long-term connections here. The site is only minutes from both the seafront and the high street, so it is ideally placed to serve the local community.

“The building had stood empty for a long time because it required extensive work. That actually appealed to us as It gave us a blank canvas and the opportunity to create the showroom we really wanted.

“With the support of our suppliers, skilled builders and surveyors and our own fitting teams, we feel we have achieved that. The feedback from the local community has been incredibly rewarding.”

What’s on show

The showroom displays products from across the A&B Glass portfolio, allowing homeowners to compare styles, materials, colours and operating features before making a decision. Gerda provides a striking focal point and has already helped the company secure its first installations from the new location.

Despite challenging conditions across the wider home improvement market, the number of enquiries generated by the Felixstowe showroom has exceeded the company’s initial expectations.

“The market remains tough, so you have to give customers a compelling reason to choose you,” said Stone. “Our sales team takes a caring, hands-on approach, supported by excellent communication, strong industry knowledge and close attention to detail. That is helping us turn enquiries into orders, and we are very excited about what lies ahead.

“When somebody is making a major investment in their home, they often want more than an online configurator. They want to touch the product, operate it, ask questions and hear an expert opinion from a friendly person they can trust. Our Felixstowe showroom provides exactly that.”

Picture: A&B Glass has created a fantastic showroom that combines excellent products with knowledgeable, personal service.

visit www.abglasshomeimprovements.co.uk

www.gerdadoors.co.uk/join-our-network