Selecta Systems renaissance has continued with the Birmingham based window and door profile system supplier being nominated finalists in two categories at the National Fenestration Awards – Systems Company 2017 and PVC Company 2017.
The nominations round off a year that has seen Selecta grow both in stature and presence within the industry, as the company heads in to the end of the year with new customer numbers at a point that have not been seen since the mid 1990’s. Sales Director, Andy Green, and Marketing Manager, Mark Walker, talk about Selecta’s impact in the industry over the last 18 months.
Fabricators buy in to the Selecta model
Andy comments, “Building strong business relationships, working closely with customers and providing a strong service and support package have always been key elements in our everyday approach to the Selecta way of working with our customers. Also, our Advance 70 window and door system sits proudly amongst all PVCu profile systems in regards to performance, versatility and practicality, and in most cases exceeding the competitions alternatives. We provide the complete fabricator package and the realisation of this is now coming to fruition. Following greater exposure to Selecta’s products, services and the culmination of our continued hard work is paying dividends as more fabricators buy in to the Selecta model and Advance 70 System.”
Mark continues, “Looking back, it seemed to me that the perception of Selecta and our range of products were somewhat misguided and there was almost a lack of understanding of Selecta’s qualities and the brand outside our own fabricator customer base. This is what led to an overhaul of our marketing strategy and plan – a more proactive, forward thinking and open approach, promoting the real values, flexibility and benefits of being ‘part of the Selecta family’, which in-turn highlighted the true value of our products, service and support packages.”
So far, 45 fabricators have converted to Advance 70 during 2017
The re-branding and enthused marketing approach has certainly captured the imagination of an industry that now wants more from their supply chain, as Andy explains. “As of the end of October 2017, a total of 45 fabricators have been converted to our Advance 70 System this year alone. We’ve found that ‘opening up’ Selecta to the rest of the industry has really opened people’s eyes, especially when they come and visit our site. I’m not too sure what people are expecting to see when they arrive, a dated backstreet Birmingham factory maybe, but they leave Selecta Avenue impressed having seen our purpose built state-of-the-art extrusion facility, distribution centre and hub, after meeting our friendly staff and seeing exactly what Selecta can and will do for them and their business.”
Andy highlights, “It seems, and rightly so, that fabricators are becoming disillusioned with their current suppliers failing to service and support them, by this I mean not doing what they said they would and will do, even from the outset. I know I sound like a broken record, but fabricators really do deal with the ‘doers’ at Selecta and we can be far more accommodating and flexible when it comes to that all important service and support.”
Industry recognition
Mark firmly believes that the two NFA category nominations for Systems Company 2017 and PVC Company 2017 are the result of the perseverance, hard work and a swing in market perception. Mark says, “The NFA’s are voted for by the trade and there is nothing better than being recognised by your industry peers. To be finalists in two categories is a testament to the hard work of all involved and to be nominated for Systems Company 2017 and PVC Company 2017, demonstrates that the industry recognises this.”
Andy concludes, “The NFA nominations and the number of fabricators being converted puts Selecta and the Advance 70 System firmly in the spotlight, as we continue to be one of the fastest growing PVCu window and door system house suppliers in the UK. Expansion and investment plans for extrusion, warehouse and transport are already afoot with key staff recruitment plans, most notably in technical and sales. We go in to 2018 with optimism and enthusiasm as we look to build further on the success of 2017.”
