GAP delivers double digit growth
- Posted: 21/08/2008
Sales at GAP, the UK’s leading home improvement stockist, continue their encouraging progress with a double digit sales growth year on year, ahead of their expectations.
The increase in sales omes off the back of the introduction of several new home improvement products designed to give its customers more to go at. GAP has added 500 new products to its range including insulation, tudor boards, cast iron effect rainwater and roof windows. Sales of the new lines provide an indication that its customer base is being proactive in their approach to sales, through adding new products to their portfolio.
Since GAP re-branded itself from a PVC-U stockist to home improvement stockist, its customer base has grown reflecting the wider selection of products it stocks from their 11 distribution centres.
Joint Managing Director Simon Bird comments: “These new products are proving popular with customers who are diversifying and growing as a result. We took a gamble adding so many new products all at once, but we felt it was a gamble we had to make to help our customers. We’re attracting new customers to visit GAP too. All of this is helping us increase sales in a difficult market. With new initiatives in the pipeline we are working flat out in the hope this success will continue.”
Fresh new look for Cosmopolitan
- Posted: 18/08/2008
A new marketing initiative has been launched to promote GAP¹s successful Cosmopolitan brand of door panels due to increasing demand.
The initiative includes a new consumer focused logo backed up with a stylish brochure designed with homeowners in mind. The literature features a slimmed down range of door panels which has 10 new additions, together with stunning glass photography that illustrates the quality of Cosmopolitan glass designs. The design reaffirms GAP¹s commitment to use 100% glass in its doors rather than plastic resin bevels.
We have looked at the whole Cosmopolitan package and made it as easy as possible for customers to sell,² explains Joint Managing Director Simon Bird. ³The range has always sold well but we wanted to keep it as fresh and contemporary as possible, making sure installers are ahead of the game. It¹s this approach that has help boost our sales while other panel manufacturers suffer a decline.²
The range includes new slim-line door panels for narrower apertures.
GAP helps Irlam Glass win £25,000 of new business
- Posted: 15/07/2008
Manchester-based Irlam Glass has won £25,000 worth of business from a recent marketing campaign, an initiative supported by leading home improvement stockist GAP. The company generated over 20 jobs from the campaign with many more still in the pipeline. GAP helped Irlam Glass create and design the four page A4 flyer which was circulated in Cadishead and Urmston.
GAP has been supplying Irlam Glass with a wide range of home improvement products, including fascias and soffits, door panel, window trims, over door canopies and the UK's leading composite door Rockdoor, for 10 years.
Managing Director Colin Ashton comments: "It's important to have the support of a reliable supplier, like GAP, especially in the current economic climate. Although the industry isn't suffering as badly as some people are reporting, every company installers needs a supplier to work proactively to help them grown. If a supplier lets us down, we end up letting our customers down and business suffers as a result. GAP supplies us with first class products and marketing support, and this is matched by its service and delivery."
Irlam Glass has six installation teams operating in the North West. Its fitters are being enrolled on GAP's NVQ in Specialist Roofline Installations being run in partnership with Wigan and Leigh College. "Homeowners want to use a company which is qualified to do the work. Enrolling our fitters on the NVQ course will help us generate more business."
First roofline industry NVQ candidates close to gaining qualification
- Posted: 09/07/2008
The first candidates on an NVQ Level 2 in Specialist Installation of Roofline, being run in partnership between leading home improvement stockist GAP and Wigan and Leigh College, are close to being the first in the country to gain the qualification. Since the NVQ was launched 3 months ago, 50 candidates have enrolled on the course and many more have expressed an interest. GAP is the first company in the industry, ahead of manufacturers, to launch a professional roofline qualification. The first candidates will receive the qualification in the next three weeks.
The course is run from GAP's dedicated Training Centre in Blackburn where they receive practical and technical training with GAP's Group Training Manager Karl Owen. Candidates also have their skills assessed on-site.
Neil Whitfield, Head of On Site Training (OSAT) at Wigan and Leigh College, says: "The feedback we've had has been very promising. Candidates have told us that this type of assessment is long overdue and being able to achieve a professional qualification is important to them. I am very pleased with the interest that has been received in the course. GAP has proven to be a positive partner and is committed to raising standards. Not only is GAP making a first class contribution to their customers but it is making it to the industry too."
Conservatory Outlet grows with support from GAP
- Posted: 20/06/2008
To be successful in today's competitive market, companies need the support of their suppliers. West Yorkshire Windows, an installation arm of Conservatory Outlet, first started buying from leading home improvement stockist GAP in 2001 Today, the bolt-on brand has 10 dealers across the North and Midlands. Not only does GAP supply Conservatory Outlet with a wide range of home improvement products, it has also helped with marketing, setting up showrooms and staff training.
Conservatory Outlet's Managing Director Matthew Glover comments: "Working with a dependable company, like GAP, which keeps its promise makes all the difference. We use GAP because it keeps its promise, delivering first class products, from roofline to door panels, and a great service. Its products are competitively priced and the company has proven to be one of the most reliable suppliers we have worked with."
GAP's Group Sales Manager Steve Jones says: "Conservatory Outlet was one of our first customers when the Leeds Depot was opened. We've worked closely together over the years and I'm delighted to see such a dynamic company grow. It shows that the relationship between suppliers and customers really can make a difference."
GAP door panels sales up 25%
- Posted: 19/06/2008
Release Date:
Sales of door panels have increased 25% at GAP year on year. The leading home improvement stockist and door panel manufacturer offers a wide-range of doors from its Cosmopolitan and Perfection ranges. This follows strong growth last year, when production of door panels at GAP increased 19% between 2006 and 2007. To meet the growing demand GAP has invested more than £300,000 in its manufacturing facilities to ensure service and quality is first class.
Joint Managing Director Charles Greensmith: "Door panel sales have increased year on year which is particularly pleasing against the back drop of what some predict to be a declining product group. These results show we are bucking the trend in the industry. Recent product improvements such as Heat Shield technology have proved successful. Homeowners can make a real statement with their front door. From the elegant to the ornate, GAP has a PVC-U door which meets any homeowner's requirements, with a 10 year guarantee so they can rely on its performance."
Cosmopolitan has more than 140 styles to choose from while Perfection offers a range of innovative leadless glass which truly lets the light shine through. Both ranges are available in a variety of colours with thousands of glass designs so there is a door to suit every house.