Sector Focus: Joinery | 31
JOINERY THINKING JOINED UP
Soaring costs and changing consumption patterns have posed challenges for joinery businesses, but leading producers say new strategies and investment leave them well-placed to prosper Mike Jeffree reports
“Fish where the fishes are” is a favoured business mantra of Ian Newey, sales director of timber door and window maker West Port. It’s guided a significant strategic shift in the company’s product mix in recent years. Other joinery businesses have also adapted to changing market consumption and trading patterns. Of course they’ve also had to contend with rampant energy inflation and the consequent cost of living crisis, plus fluctuating raw materials costs and availability. But despite this, those we spoke to, including West Port, Archwood Group and Gowercroft Joinery, look to have evolved successfully – as witnessed by continuing new product development and major capital investment programmes. Overall their outlook for the sector is positive, with the hole left in
the market by JELD-WEN’s 2022 decision to close its Melton Mowbray window and door plants, and regulatory development, with the introduction of Fire and Building Safety Acts, seen as providing added opportunity.
Archwood, comprising Richard Burbidge and Masons Timber Products brands, plus flooring producer Atkinson & Kirby, reports sales down in volume over the last year, but flat in value thanks to price inflation. “DIY sales have fallen in value and volume as the pandemic home improvement boom has worked its way out of the system,” said managing director Josh Burbidge. “It produced a massive increase in sales of Burbidge exterior products as consumers renovated outdoor spaces, but that fell
sharply last year and hasn’t returned. Our RMI business via trade merchants is going through changing times too, with the shift from bricks and mortar to online retail. Some merchants are ahead of the game in developing their websites to win a slice of the online pie, but with bricks and mortar outlet business down, sales overall are static. It’s an existential challenge for this sector.” However, in new build, where Archwood is primarily exposed to medium-sized and regional housebuilders undertaking executive home type developments and extensions, the business has picked up market share, partly due to JELD-WEN’s factory closures. “This part of construction also seems to have held up relatively well,” said Mr Burbidge. ►
Above: Gowercroft products ready for delivery
www.ttjonline.com | May/June 2023 | TTJ
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85
