These are strange times for the windows and doors industry. Current government guidelines promote working from home for anyone who is able to and there is growing concern from the public about home visits or visiting showrooms. Windows and doors companies are facing unique challenges as most have both office-based staff and employees who spend most of their time in workshops or installing. Here, we try to help you make the most of “business as usual”:
Reassure your customers
We are sure you are doing everything you can to keep your team and customers safe. Put a statement out on social media to reassure customers that you are taking all precautions possible to maintain hygiene and send the same statement to current customers in an email. Here’s an example statement:
“We wanted to let you know how we are currently dealing with this unprecedented time and reassure you if you had been thinking of booking our services: we are currently open as normal with the business running as usual. We are, however, following government guidelines. This includes ensuring our team are well enough to be in work, this will be assessed daily to protect our customers as well as our team and their families.
Our installation team are taking extra precautions, including extra hand washing and sanitizing, sanitizing the area they are working in and wiping window and door handles upon leaving.
Our showroom will continue to be open as usual and alcohol hand gel is readily available should you wish to visit us. We can also provide quotes with just a few measurements over the phone and by email.”
Check in with suppliers
Talk to your suppliers and see how they are being affected. Chat to each other about how you can support each other – even if it’s just sharing each other’s social media posts. If we all come together to show our businesses are still “up and at it” consumer confidence will build.
Show customers the faces behind the company
Now is the time to remind customers of the human element of your business. To reinforce the message that it is “business as usual” for you. Get permission from team members and then grab some photos of activity in your workshop, office staff working at home and team members carrying out installations and share them on social media.
Put a plan of action in place for remote working
Identify which staff can work remotely. Consider how you will enable staff to access everything they need while keeping customer data secure. Our integrate system can provide the perfect solution for this. It enables staff to access email, order history, designs and progress reports from anywhere on a phone, tablet or laptop. The system is entirely secure and adheres to all GDPR regulation.
We can currently set up new customers with the integrateCRM system within two weeks, helping you stay on top of your customer enquiries and orders. We can also set up the window designer parts of integrateCORE in a further 10 days allowing companies to design windows and doors and quote manually. All of the implementation and training work can be handled remotely by the EndtoEnd IT Team.
“Having used other software I can say nothing compares to EndtoEnd IT. The team are always very helpful and calm. If I have a question, I can call them and get help no problem.” Jeremy, Director of KingsRock Joinery, an EndtoEnd IT customer.
Send customers quotes and designs with just a few measurements
If you’re seeing a decline in enquiries because people don’t want to visit your showroom or host you in their home, why not ask them to send you measurements? With our packages, customers can send you measurements of their current windows and doors by email or tell you them by phone and you can design their new windows with this simple information. The programme will then draw up an impressive and accurate design for you to send back to them by email with all the pricing included.
“Quotes are now received and issued within four hours. Something that could have taken six or seven days previously” Gowercroft Joinery, an EndtoEnd IT customer.
Get customers thinking about the future
When this uncertain time passes, people will still need doors and windows. Encourage advance sales and bookings by posting about the thermal benefits of your products, use images of your products at Christmas time and explain the benefits of booking early.
“it sounds like EndtoEnd IT really are the future of the timber windows and doors industry.” – Woodworking News
For more information about our software and how it can help you, book an online demo or call us on 01422 762 098.
