My Christmas Message

Unlike RCG, I do enjoy the Christmas period (just not this extreme cold!).


I am fully aware that Christmas is bad for business, but it allows everyone to breathe a sigh of relief and gives us a chance to relax and not worry about business and money, just for a little bit. If your boss is nice enough, you get to let your hair down with staff parties too!


Christmas is a time for families as well. The older you get the more important your family seems to become. Grandparents are an important one for me, I have only one Grandad left, so it's vital we all see him, especially during the festive period while he's on his own. With this time off we should be making the most of it and be seeing our loved ones. 


Cards. This is a controversial one. Some people like to give and receive them, some people cannot be bothered with them. The ones from suppliers and manufacturers I can understand. But the ones from friends and family are the ones that matter. RCG, remember cards can be recycled! Don't insult the good will some people are genuinely trying to send you!


Commercial. Yes Christmas is about the most commercial thing on the planet! Shops started to sell festive stuff back in August, way too early! But we don't have to succumb to the commercialism, we aren't forced to. We can do things which don't involve spending copious amounts of money. It's the simple stuff which I think can make people happy at this time of year.


So, I wish everyone (even RCG!) a very special Christmas and a fantastic New Year. Enjoy the time off. Re-charge and get ready for another busy year ahead!

RCG Put On Ice

As a fellow blogger in the same industry I felt obliged to comment on RCG's latest, and possibly last post.

For those who are unaware, myself and RCG work for rival companies in the Wakefield area and have had a 'healthy' rivalry. I stumbled on his blog at the beginning of 2009 and found it an interesting read. The industry didn't really have an outlet for opinion and this was the first proper hub for it. But what pushed me to start this blog was not for rivalry purposes, but because it started the spark in me to do something similar. I'm quite an opinionated person, so upon finding RCG I went ahead and started my own. It took me a while to get off the ground in terms of views and comments but they steadily grew as time went by, thanks to a helpful mention on the RCG blog, so a thanks has to be made there.

Hearing that RCG is to be put on ice is a shame. What was written was always worth reading, even if it wasn't always on topic. His posts however grew ever more conservative in their wording, this is probably due to the numerous threats of legal action he has already mentioned. I can say now that I know exactly how that feels! I know myself that the things I write may ruffle a few feathers from time to time, but despite any threats that may arise, I will continue to write in a free and flowing way, and will always try to bring any bits of gossip to readers (while trying to keep on the legal side of things!). RCG tends to have a wider range of contacts than me so gossipy bits might be a bit few and far between.

Hopefully a few of RCG's readers will find their way over to this blog. I have no plans to stop writing, and will only stop if people stop reading and leaving comments. So best of luck RCG.

Evolution Of Blogs

In my opinion blogs have always been something which I've seen as important and beneficial to the double glazing industry. And something which polarised this opinion was when RCG removed his post about the Amdega conservatory removal. I've always seen blogs as a useful tool to spread your opinion, release new information and gossip etc. But I also see blogs as a great tool to root out some of the deadwood in this industry. In my opinion RCG was wrong to remove the Amdega post. He wasn't biased in any way, he remained neutral, and put the post up in such as way as to gauge opinion, not to make his own assumptions. Blogs are supposed to be free thinking forums where people can voice their opinions, question other's points of view, defend themselves etc.

He said he removed the post due to negative feedback. The nature of the post was negative, so there was always going to be bad blood posted on there. It was a good honest post. We got to see people's honest opinions and thoughts (plus a bit of my over-eagerness!), something which we don't often get to see in this day and age. I don't know if it is possible for RCG to put the post and comments back on, but if he can he should.

Blogs could, and should evolve into places where people can do good for the industry as a whole and become a whistle-blower-esque way of routing out the bad installations and companies in our industry. FENSA won't solve the problem of cowboys, nor will any other industry body, we have to do it ourselves! 

The Day After

It will be interesting to see some of the early results that came out of GlassTalk on Tuesday. What will be of the most interest to me is how the SGG interview went, and how they tried to justify monumental price increases throughout the year.

Also, it would be interesting to hear what most people thought of phoenix companies. In my view, we shouldn't be supporting them, and when the less reputable businesses do go under, we should be doing our best to make sure that they don't rise from their own discredited ashes.

I'll be looking forward to RCG's posts at some point on Wednesday, providing he isn't too hung over!

SIGN THE WINDOWS SCRAPPAGE SCHEME PETITION NOW!: http://www.petitions.number10.gov.uk/windowscrappage

Condensation Problem

RCG did a similar post on this not so long ago.

Over the weekend we have a few customers contact us about condensation on the outside of their windows after having A rated windows installed. At least we know they are working! But this is an issue we are now starting to explain when demonstrating the product to customers from the outset.

But it could turn into a bit of a sticking point. Customers hate a bit of condensation on the inside of their windows, so I'm sure they aren't going to appreciate waking up in the winter to fully condensed windows.

SIGN THE WINDOWS SCRAPPAGE SCHEME PETITION NOW!: http://www.petitions.number10.gov.uk/windowscrappage

Building Regulation Changes To Have Installers Over A Barrel

I said on RCG's blog I wouldn't write a post about the changes to Document L because Kevin Ahern covered my point well. But I'm going to, and I'm going to be blunt!

I think the BFRC and the GGF had all this planned months ago, it's all too convenient! The BFRC set up the OPTIONAL Authorised Retailers scheme to let installers have WER certificates in their own name, which they have to pay for of course. Then the busy bodies who decide on rule changes decide it's a good idea to change the compliance to Part L to needing to have a WER certificate in the installer’s name. How coincidental, so when the changes come into force in 2010, installers will have to buy the BFRC certification and licences anyway!

This just shows just how bent our industry really is, trying to scheme more money out of us, then changing the rules to make it necessary anyway!

SIGN THE WINDOWS SCRAPPAGE SCHEME PETITION NOW!: http://www.petitions.number10.gov.uk/windowscrappage

Support The Window Scrappage Scheme

It seems the petition for the windows scrappage scheme is gathering pace, as is evident in a recent post on the RCG website.

We received a letter from one of our glass manufacturers this morning asking us to pledge our support (which we already have done) and sign the petition. It is good to see suppliers showing their support for the cause, and not just installers making all the leg work. We are having all our staff register their details to vote, and anybody else they know with an interest in the double glazing industry, they are asking them to sign also.

The current total number of signatures stands at over 1000, but hopefully over the coming weeks and months up to Christmas the petition will gather more pace and collect a more significant number of signatures.

If you haven't already, go to http://www.petitions.number10.gov.uk/windowscrappage and show your support!

Iv'e Got A High Profile Reader

Hi RCG

Nice to see you having a look at my blog.

The last post was never meant to insinuate that being number one on google searches was a waste of time. In fact my personal opinion is that the Internet should be considered as important as any other marketing tool, if not one of the most vital, as well as the showroom.

As regards to newspaper advertisements, which ever company you may be, in any industry, to be in the local press is vital for those not so enthusiastic towards the Internet, or for those who don't have access to a computer.

Investment in the blog is not a main priority right now unfortunately, this is my own personal little venture and just a place to vent view's or frustrations. It would be nice to have a few more readers and fire up a few healthy debates about the industry though, we both know that there are plenty of areas for our industry to be focusing on, especially 5 % VAT rates on energy rated products etc.

It may be mundane but it's whats paying our bills!

Tactics

I stumbled on another double glazing blog the other day, abbreviated its called RCG. They managed to get hold of another companies quote, the company is called B & P Windows. I'm unaware if B & P know if RCG has a copy of their quote they gave to this particular customer.


A comment was left on RCG's post, explaining that you can't energy rate a conservatory, therefore making an 'energy rated conservatory' impossible, implying B & P Windows has misled the customer.


I failed to find any mention on the quote of energy rated conservatories. Which brings me on to why I'm writing. The tactic of using other companies' quotes, picking them apart to try and get one up on the competition, in my eyes shows a lack of quality on the other company. Shouldn't companies try and focus on their own quotes and paperwork, rather than pick apart others?


I don't think much gain will have been had by RCG, if the extract he posted included something which said 'energy rated conservatories', then maybe he would have a had point.


Companies should stick to focusing on their own interests, and not to bother too much with what others are doing.


Must say though, B & P Windows must be an annoyance to RCG, because B & P Windows is mentioned twice on his blog now, they must be a stubborn thorn!