With the need for us all to live more sustainably making headlines around the world, consumers are becoming increasingly conscious of the impact their decisions have not only on them, but on the planet as well.
While the popularity of decking amongst homeowners and in the commercial sector has been growing for some time, recent years have seen a surge in demand for composite decking specifically, and in no small part due to its eco credentials.
Leading composite decking brands such as Trex are not only low maintenance, but also provide an eco-friendly solution thanks to the use of recycled plastics and a guarantee of up to 25 years – providing an ideal choice for environmentally-conscious homeowners and business owners.
And as the demand for composite decking grows, so does the need for specialist installers.
The Trexpro scheme This means that installers must make themselves stand out from the crowd; and one way to do this is through the TrexPRO scheme, launched by Trex in 2018 and actively supported by Arbor Forest Products.
The scheme advocates specialist installers, providing them with Trex marketing materials so that they can discuss the product and colour options with clients. TrexPRO installers are also given a company profile page on Trex’s website, providing a space for them to showcase their project images, customer reviews and their contact details – directing potential customers straight to them and therefore helping to build their business.
But what does all this mean for the merchant stockists?
As composite decking continues to grow in popularity, merchants that choose to stock leading brands such as Trex will, of course, benefit from supplying installers, who are more in demand than ever.
And it’s not just during the traditional decking season that installers are receiving job requests from customers. Members of the TrexPRO scheme are seeing their books fill up quicker than ever, not just in the summer months but throughout the year – which means they’re relying heavily on their local merchant to stock the composite decking products needed for the job.
At Arbor Forest Products, as supporters of the TrexPRO scheme, we work hard to close the loop between installers and their suppliers in a number of ways. One of the key ways we do this is through our ‘Warehouse on Wheels’ scheme, which means that we can deliver multiple-product orders to merchants in the exact quantities required; so installers can trust their merchant to stock the products they need, when they need them.
Our team is in regular contact with both specialist Trex installers and merchants to ensure both benefit from positive working relationships, with the aim of continued success for both parties.
Increased knowledge Not only do great relationships between installers and suppliers play an important role in the success of composite decking, but so does training.
Arbor Forest Products not only identifies and qualifies potential TrexPRO scheme members, but we also host dedicated events for installers which are hosted by a Trex representative and also often attended by an employee from its US headquarters.
But it’s not only the TrexPROs who benefit from our training materials: we also offer dedicated training for Trex stockists, which includes information on the features and benefits of the products, the best techniques for installation, and even a practical demonstration to ensure merchants have the knowledge to guide customers to the right products for the job.
