Performance Doorset Solutions
Performance Doorset Solutions (PDS) has had less exposure to the housing downturn as most of its sales business is in the social housing and refurbishment sectors.

Business to the latter is through timber and builders merchants and sales and marketing director Paul Goggins believes this has also helped the company during the recession.

“People who were working for larger companies are being made redundant. They’re setting up on their own and their typical procurement outlet would be a timber or builders merchant. They’re the ones that tend to do the small refurb projects,” said Mr Goggins.

The recession has also resulted in an increased fear of burglary and greater focus on security, which PDS meets with its Secured by Design windows and doors.

And despite money worries, sustainability is still important. “Because people can’t get mortgages and there’s insecurity about the job market people are renovating and extending properties. Cost is an issue but people appreciate there is a value with timber windows and doors over the long term,” said Mr Goggins.

Forest Garden
For Forest Garden, building trade business has fallen but retail, internet and ecommerce sales are all up, reflecting the ‘staycation’ phenomenon and suggesting that people are spending money on their homes.

“Following a slow start to the year largely due to a combination of poor weather and general economic uncertainty, sales were strong from March as the weather improved and people started to venture into their gardens. As we enter the holiday period we are starting to see our usual seasonal slowdown,” said sales and marketing director John Gomersall.

“Our gardening retail customers have done particularly well with sheds and small storage, whilst fencing has remained strong for the domestic DIY sector.”

Sales are expected to dip before rising during “the autumn clear-up” in October when people buy storage for their garden furniture or patio heaters.

Richard Burbidge Ltd
It’s a tough market all round but RMI is performing much better than new build, said Gary Carter, strategic development manager at Richard Burbidge.

And within that, retail is faring better than trade. “I wouldn’t say either of them is booming but the retail sector has held up better than trade. One of the reasons is that retailers haven’t destocked,” said Mr Carter.

In recent years retail customers have been moving away from pine to temperate hardwoods such as oak and hemlock, and that’s a trend that’s continued during the recession.

“There seems to be no sign of downtrading,” said Mr Carter. “If anything, the reverse is true: those that have the money are still spending it. It’s the lower end of the market that is suffering more.”

Despite the difficult market, this year Richard Burbidge has launched variations of its Fusion balustrade, and further launches are planned for October.

Timber Decking & Cladding Association
The decking market is holding up well in the recession and most of the Timber Decking & Cladding Association’s (TDCA) manufacturing members say they are busy.

The decking trend started in the UK nearly 10 years ago and TDCA director Steve Young said early customers were now remodelling their decks – adding extensions and new features. Research by the organisation last year suggested that this now accounts for 10-12% of the UK’s £135m market.

Sales have also been buoyed by the ‘staycation’ trend.

“Cuprinol did some market research in April which indicated that people were spending a lot less on holidays and more on improving their gardens, and decking was one of the number one wishlist items that people were planning,” said Mr Young.

JELD-WEN
With the downturn in new house building, joinery manufacturer JELD-WEN has noted a dramatic fall in orders for staircases, but in comparison, window and door sales are doing reasonably well thanks to the RMI market.

“Social housing RMI is holding up quite well, and private RMI – the small builder market – is OK,” said marketing director Joanne Mitchell. “The market is down, but not nearly as much as new build.”

High-performance, low U-value windows are selling well, including the DreamVu which was launched earlier this year, and its new tilt and turn windows is in demand in Scotland.

On the door side, folding sliding patio doors are popular and JELD-WEN’s new 35mm fire door, launched last year, is being specified for social housing and private refurbishments.

“We have new products and I think that always helps,” said Ms Mitchell.

In terms of high-performance windows she believes being one of the few UK manufacturers has also helped.

The ‘improve not move’ trend is perhaps most apparent in the retail sector where Ms Mitchell said sales appear to be more recession-proof.

There is also evidence of homeowners turning to loft conversions to expand their living space. “It has been difficult but I think the market has bottomed out, it’s not getting worse,” she said.