6 minute read
INSTALLER ADVICE BY HӒFELE
RIDING THE WAVE:
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Natalie Davenport, Head of Marketing at Häfele UK describes how installers can work smarter to maximise demand.
Natalie Davenport, Head of Marketing , Häfele UK
www.hafele.co.uk
As we spend more time in our homes, it’s not surprising that we find faults and need spaces to work harder than ever before. When the pandemic hit, almost overnight, rooms took on new functions. Now for example, it’s not the kitchen-diner but the kitchen-diner-office. Equally, being confined to one space for such a prolonged period has led to ‘home fatigue’ for many consumers who are now desperate to make changes within their four walls.
As a result, the demand for tradespeople is unprecedented. It’s estimated that most trades have seen around a 63% rise in jobs versus the 12 months previous, with joiners and carpenters being at the forefront of requests, with a whopping increase of two-thirds1. Likewise, our survey of 2,000 people found that home workers plan to spend a huge £700m on office construction in the next 12 months.
While this is great news, it does bring challenges with how to structure jobs, manage enquiries and of course, complete as much work as possible to ride the surge, while maintaining quality standards. What’s more, the construction industry, like every other part of society, is still required to follow social distancing guidelines bringing further challenges in terms of speed and ease of working.
To maximise the opportunity that this demand for home improvements presents, installers should turn to manufacturers who are on hand to help in a number of ways.
Understanding what the customer wants…faster
Helping customers work out the style, design and function of their new kitchen or bathroom can sometimes be the hardest part of the job, especially when consultations are now brief or even remote.
To help start discussions and steer customers to a decision quicker when they’re unsure, we asked consumers who recently renovated their kitchen what they would do differently next time and what advice would they give to others. While colour and style often reign supreme when customers begin planning their design, in hindsight, the vast majority of those surveyed chose substance over style, with 72% of respondents saying functionality and usability were most important.
Alongside function, a huge 88% of respondents said lighting is very important to kitchen design. Layout of cabinets and appliances was next on the list, with budget and cupboard / drawer storage space joint fourth. It’s also interesting to know that 85% of those surveyed would splash the cash on extra storage if they were planning their kitchen again.
Armed with these priorities, it’s easier to explore what customers want and help them come to a decision quicker. As well as saving valuable time upfront, it also equates to greater customer satisfaction long term.
More speed, greater efficiency
Installers can also make the most of the surge in work by maximising their efficiency. To help, leading manufacturers have a number of products for installers designed with speed and ease firmly in mind. Häfele’s new drawer range, Matrix, is one such example. The range is available in three product lines – Matrix Box S, Matrix Box A and Matrix Box P. Matrix Box P, a premium twin walled system in the range has been specifically created for simple installation thanks for a range of accompanying accessories.
The Matrix P drilling jig, for example, speeds up drawer running fitting. Once lined up against the carcass fascia at the right height for the chosen runner, fitters can pre-drill holes using a counter sink drill bit. Likewise, a fascia alignment jig helps locate the fascia fitting into the back of the drawer front. The jig has a racket function, allowing fitters to tap the drawer front top for easy and quick adjustment. When the fitter is happy with the alignment, they simple tap the drawer again fronton to make drill hole impressions.
As well as thinking about ways to make it easier for trades to achieve a high-quality finish quicker, manufacturers are also exploring ways to make lighter work of tasks.
Levelling cabinetry can be, quite literally, a backbreaking repetitive task that takes time to get ‘just right’. And the same goes for fitting plinths and wardrobes. Thanks to clever plinth adjusting and fitting systems like Axilo™ by Häfele however, that needn’t be the case. Ergonomically designed, it reduces the risk of back-related injuries but helpfully can cut kitchen unit assembly times by almost half.
Again, simple tools like this are a great way to improve on-the-job efficiency and enable trades to get through more work in less time.
Time saving services
Beyond time saving products, leading manufacturers are also creating services that reduce a lot of the leg work for installers.
During the pandemic for example, we’ve extended Häfele to Order, a bespoke service which allows installers to specify products to exact sizes, quantity and finish – for example, the components can be delivered cut to exact measurements and pre-assembled. While customers regularly use this service for items such as wardrobe rails or sliding door gear, joiners and kitchen fitters can now use Häfele to Order for bespoke timber drawers too.
Crafting beautiful, handmade bespoke timber drawers takes skill, care, attention, and time, but sometimes there just aren’t enough hours in the day. Through the service, customers can order handmade, solid timber drawers personalised to their needs and complete with full dovetail joints, usually in just a two-week turnaround. The Häfele bespoke timber drawer service is completely made to order, meaning customers can tailor their requirements against a long list of design and personalisation options. These include choice of timber, finish and size along with shaped sides - flat or stepped top - and notching and drilling for runners.
A similar approach can also be taken to lighting. As our consumer survey highlighted, lighting is a critical factor in kitchen design but can often seem like a complex, time-zapping area for installers or traditionally one they would outsource to a subcontractor. Thanks to innovations in furniture lighting however, it’s becoming easier to provide the full package.
Loox by Häfele has been developed specifically for the furniture industry. A simple, modular plug and play system, installers can easily incorporate it into kitchen designs to create that all important wow factor. App controlled, it can also be adjusted for different times of the day and lighting conditions, changing the atmosphere as the customer likes at the click of a button.
As well as being easy to fit, furniture lighting schemes can be easy to design too. Häfele offers a free of charge Lighting Design Service that gives users a bespoke lighting plan, product list and priced quote in just three simple steps. Simply complete an online form with basic information and upload a floor plan, and within 10 days, the company’s team of lighting consultants will return a tailored specification. Usefully, the Lighting Design Service can also be paired with Häfele to Order, making Loox probably the easiest furniture lighting range to install on the UK market.
While ‘normal’ life isn’t completely out of reach now, it’s still likely we’ll be spending more time living and working in our homes than prepandemic times. As such, the demand for trades isn’t going away anytime soon. By working with manufacturers and understanding the products and services available, installers can make the most of the surge in home improvements and improve their efficiency and profitability.
