Jodie Js One And Only

Spring 2006 and Jodie Jefferson places an order for composite doors with Ballymena manufacturer, Apeer. 20 Years later, her company still only buys from its first and only supplier.

Jefferson is MD at Didcot Windows. She has now bought in over 1,200 doors with, as she says, no issues and always excellent service.

Established in 1988, Didcot Windows has evolved into a company that values its employees and cares about the quality of the products it installs. Loyalty is valued.

Apeer immediately resonated with these principles when it first started working with Jefferson and her team. These are the principles that continue to form the foundation of their working relationship.

People first

“I first joined Didcot Windows at the age of 18 and quickly understood that the success of the business was founded on the strength of its people,” said Jefferson. “While the Apeer doors are definitely superior in terms of looks and functionality, the fact that the company itself subscribes to the same principles of people first is why the relationship is so strong.”

Didcot in Oxfordshire is a relatively affluent area, so trade has remained buoyant for the installation company, which runs three teams of fitters. Jefferson, who bought out the company in 2020 when the original owner Trevor Jones took retirement, is driven by the desire to create a good working environment for everyone involved in the business.

She said: “We are powered by trust, both among ourselves and with our suppliers too. That trust filters throughout the chain all the way through to our customers. We’re even replacing windows today for customers that we had more than thirty years ago. That is the power of longevity in our industry.”

Slugs out

Word of mouth is a crucial element of Didcot Windows’ marketing activity. The company is particularly busy replacing front doors in a number of local new housing developments, where new owners are reporting on several issues with their existing doors; particularly damp and slug infestation, of all things.

Colour

Didcot Windows has a range of colours and styles on display in its showroom. Apeer’s steel blue colour is particularly popular at the moment.

“Despite being in the digital age, the showroom remains a crucial element of our marketing,” said Jefferson. “From unexpected drop-ins to weekend open days, local homeowners prefer to visit to see and feel the quality of the doors and get a tangible experience of their performance. The conversion rate once someone has visited the showroom is significantly higher.”

Milestone

“Jodie and her team at Didcot Windows make the challenge of manufacturing so worthwhile,” added Asa McGillian, managing director of Apeer. “The care and attention they pour into creating a welcoming and stable trading environment for both employees and customers alike must be met by providing them with quality product that performs over and above market comparables. 20 years is a significant milestone in a working relationship, and we will continue to pull all stops out to guarantee another 20 years of problem-free door supply!”

Picture:  Jodie Jefferson, the MD at Didcot Windows. Poses in front of two colourful Apeer doors at her showroom that attracts lots of homeowners and has seen the company sell has over 1,200 doors in 20 years, all from the same supplier.

www.apeer.co.uk

www.didcotwindows.co.uk