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Over the course of the last five issues, we’ve provided you with a ‘Behind the Scenes’ insight in to PVCu window and door systems company Selecta Systems. In our final behind the scenes feature, Sales Director Andy Green takes us through some key staff and areas within the business, ones that continue to provide an invaluable and vital service to the business and customers.
In our previous features we’ve looked at many aspects of Selecta, the PVCu window and door systems extrusion and production inner workings, servicing and support mechanisms. We started with the mixing plant and extrusion process, going from powder to plastic and that it’s not just a piece of plastic, but a precision engineered product.
The second instalment saw us talk about the rigors and brutality of PAS 24 testing and the ruthless process windows and doors undergo to gain certification for enhanced security performance. This was followed by the fascination of lamination, a very insightful look in to how colour has changed the market and the process behind turning your standard plastic base colours in to both modern and traditional on-trend shades and grained effects.
We’ve also looked at the marketing support area and how Selecta supports their growing loyal customer base, as well as newly converted customers. This led to technical support and the transition process of converting customers to Selecta and the personal technical support package that this provided.
These previous five ‘Behind the Scenes’ features have provided you with an in depth understanding of the workings and complexities of an extrusion company, from providing fabricators with a piece of plastic to supporting the customer during their journey with the business. But it doesn’t stop there and so we look at some of the team behind the scenes…
As Sales Director, the customer facing sales development team report to myself, where I’m responsible for looking after the growth of existing and new business, providing support from within the office and face-to-face. With over 32 years of service at Selecta I have held a number of roles with different responsibilities.
I originally started life at Selecta as a field sales representative before moving into the technical department. After becoming the technical manager, I was then appointed UK business manager, before finally being promoted to my current role as sales director in 2016.
In fact, I was already part of the ‘family’ before I joined Selecta, as I was a customer with Adapta Windows. Indeed, Adapta was also a family run business, which was owned by my father and so there has always been this strong family connection with myself.
Out on the road, we have three Sales Representatives / Business Development Managers, who have their dedicated postcode areas across the country. Dave Nelson, who previously worked for a customer of Selecta, has been with us since 2016 and has a very comprehensive range of fabrication knowledge and experience of our ADVANCE 70 System. A popular character amongst our customers, Dave mainly covers the London, Midlands and North West.
Richard Reeves joined Selecta in 2018 from a window and door machinery and consumables supplier, again bringing a wealth of knowledge of customers and the industry to Selecta. Covering mainly Wales, Midlands and eastern side of the UK.
New to the business is Matt Blake, who joined the Selecta family in the middle of this year. Matt has previous experience within the industry and a background in sales. Matt not only covers Scotland and the North East, but also the South West and South Coast.
Sales and accounts are managed by Maria Lawrence, who is one of the longest serving member of the team. Upon joining Selecta, Maria was one of only 7 or 8 employees at the time and has worked her way up from an Order Processor and Accounts Manager to her current role.
Long serving employees Marie Astley and Gayle Stephens co-ordinate, manage and process all customer orders, with Credit Control Manager Lorraine Hammond, supported by Maureen Taylor, managing customers’ accounts. Marie, Gayle and Lorraine all have 22+ years’ service each, gaining a wealth of experience and knowledge of the business and our customers during this time.
Transport and warehouse logistics are managed by Lee Davey. Lee is in his second spell at Selecta, after finding out that the grass wasn’t greener on the other side! In the eleven years since his return to the business Lee has managed the trade counter and worked within purchasing, stock control, transport and logistics. He was recently appointed Warehouse & Logistics Manager and has already had a big influence on the development of the department.
Lee’s role sees him coordinating and managing all processes relating to customer order picking, packing and delivery. Customer orders are meticulously picked and packed by the warehouse team, ready for despatch across the length and breadth of the UK.
Management of the delivery vehicles and drivers is also undertaken by Lee. Selecta own their own fleet of trucks and delivery vehicles, which operate on a daily basis. An in-house garage and repair shop maintains the delivery fleet, ensuring that they remain in tip-top condition, serving our customers during the working week.
What these features have allowed ourselves to do is open up Selecta to you, the fabricator, providing you with an insight in to our window and door system extrusion and distribution operations. We’ve had the satisfaction of explaining how certain areas of the business work, the intrinsic nature of extrusion and product testing, whilst also having the opportunity to introduce you to the strong team that makes Selecta who we are today. The next time you receive a six-metre length of profile, fabricate a beautiful window or French door, you can appreciate it for exactly what it is. To some, it will just be another window or a door. To a few, it will just be a piece of plastic. To Selecta Systems, it will always be that precision engineered product!
