Installer Advice
RIDING THE WAVE: MAKING THE MOST OF THE DEMAND FOR HOME IMPROVEMENTS
Natalie Davenport, Head of Marketing at Häfele UK describes how installers can work smarter to maximise demand.
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.
Natalie Davenport, Head of Marketing , Häfele UK
www.hafele.co.uk
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.
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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.
