Aylesbury based Garrard Windows, and its large network of installer customers, have noticed a telling difference to the quality of their frames since re-affirming their relationship with leading international friction stay manufacturer Cotswold Architectural Products.
Garrard Windows claims it is the largest supplier of Eurocell UPVC windows to the trade in England and has grown rapidly since its formation by offering their customers high-quality windows that are ready to install and guaranteed not to fail on the homeowner.
Garrard had originally been a long-term Cotswold customer but in late 2011 decided to buy in their hardware from a Chinese manufacturer. Despite being slightly cheaper Garrard found the imported friction stays to be of inferior quality to the Cotswold range, an issue that was affecting their well-established reputation and creating many more remedial calls and fabrication problems.
Managing Director Steve Leek elaborates: “Providing our network of customers with a no-nonsense top-quality product that is ready to install is the beating heart of our business model. But unfortunately this was being compromised by the quality of friction stay which we were buying from the Chinese manufacturer.”
To rectify this issue Garrard Windows re-affirmed their relationship with Cotswold Architectural Products and according to Steve the difference to the quality of the product was instantly recognisable: “The quality of the steel, quality of the manufacturing and the reliability of service that Cotswold provide made an instant difference to our business once again and since joining back up with them, the number of complaints regarding window hinges is back to virtually nil.”
Cotswold’s Managing Director Iain Morgan comments: “We’re delighted to see that our range of hardware has ensured Garrard continue to offer its network of installer customers an exemplary end-product to take to the homeowner that has virtually no chance of failing. We also feel it may be a nod to an emerging trend of manufacturers moving away from lesser priced overseas imports in favour of a quality and trusted product closer to home,” Iain concludes.