Article PVC-U Windows & Doors A CHANGING MARKETPLACE Crystal Direct says it is modernising window fabrication and delivery. Here, Kevin Morgan, Commercial Director, explains the ‘dropship vending’ approach and reveals why aluplast is the ideal partner to help the fabricator achieve its goals for <strong>2024</strong> and beyond... Established in 1990 by Martin Randall, Crystal Direct has always prided itself on leading the way when it comes to industry trends and innovation. The trade fabricator was one of the first to recognise the market potential for coloured fenestration products and now, the company is building on its success supplying high street DIY firms with made-to-measure windows and doors that are delivered directly to site – known as ‘dropship vending’. “We have very big plans for the future, mostly in terms of dropship vending, and e-commerce while retaining all of our core business trade,” Crystal Direct’s Commercial Director Kevin Morgan says. “The market became really challenging in the years since Covid, which led to a shift in how people accessed windows and doors. “We have been dropshipping for big brands such as B&Q and Screwfix since around 2012, but since the pandemic we’ve been getting enquiries from many other well-known brands.” Kevin explains that Crystal Direct fills a vital role in the expansion of home improvement e-commerce, where homeowners turn to trusted high street names for their windows and doors, who in turn want to pass on the responsibility for manufacture and delivery to a third party. “Those big companies don’t want to hold the stock,” he says. “They want to have it delivered direct, and they don’t want to play a big part in the touchpoints. “So, through our own fleet, we offer dropshipping directly from a web platform or in a traditional way, where the end-user gets the product directly from us.” Kevin Morgan “Covid led to a shift in the way people access windows and doors” Crystal Direct has invested in all the touchpoints that make the buying journey as smooth as possible for the end-user. For example, they are notified when they place the order, they get a delivery date, and they are reminded right up to the point of delivery. Crystal Direct has invested heavily in its fleet so that it can confidently meet its promises of a quick nationwide delivery service. The company has also built relationships with supply partners so that product features, quality and supply security match customers’ demands. “We recently began working with aluplast, based on the fact that their product is really quite superb both in terms of its performance, its robustness, but also its sustainability credentials, which is really important to Crystal and our customers,” Kevin says. “From a sustainability and energy saving perspective, aluplast’s ecotech profile – which offers both performance and a unique extrusion process ensuring the external walls are pristine and the internal walls isolate recycled material – coupled with a triple glazed option, means that we can offer an industry-leading product. “We want to be a unique fabricator, at the forefront of sustainability movement, and our partnership with aluplast underpins the relationship we have with our customers, such as Screwfix, Toolstation and Travis Perkins, as well as our core trade business.” aluplast’s investment in product development continues with a new 76mm platform window. The Ideal neo is an exciting new sustainable window suite which satisfies current commercial needs for both performance and design. “Some of the big brands we deal with are developing their own sustainability brands, and our relationship with aluplast helps us to meet the criteria to be a part of that premium offering,” Kevin says. aluplast also helps Crystal Direct stay true to its ‘No.1 for choice, No. 1 for colour’ logo tagline, as the majority of aluplast’s flush orders include colour – now in many hundreds of combinations with a range of 40 different finishes, including the premium range woodec and aludec foils. The systems supplier continues to invest heavily in its foiling plants with new CNC foiling machines, which allows it to maintain a strong supply. “We have very big plans for <strong>2024</strong> and beyond, and it is important we have like-minded supply partners to accompany us on that journey,” Kevin concludes. Hear more from Kevin at: glaze-tube.co.uk/thedropship-vending-route/ Contact Crystal Direct: 01462 489 900 crystal-direct.co.uk 58 T I JANUARY <strong>2024</strong> PRACTICAL CONTENT FOR THE GLAZING INSTALLER & HOME IMPROVEMENT SPECIALIST
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