To get ‘FIT’, go to Telford in April

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The full benefit of this workout will be for window and door specifiers, producers and installers…It’s a B2B exhibition and seminar in Telford with 175 exhibitors.

The FIT – ‘Fabricator Installer Trade’ – Show is the UK’s only specialist event for anyone involved with the £4.5 billion + fenestration industry, or what was known in another age, as the double-glazing business.

For in addition to the hard core of manufacturers and installers of windows, doors and conservatories for the private home improvement sector the event provides a fertile buying ground for housebuilders and public sector landlords, who may be looking for that extra touch that will sell more private homes, or bring public sector estates up to scratch. The options for both are simply staggering….

The FIT Show, launched in 2013 and taking place for the third time at The International Centre Telford, takes place in its third iteration in April this year. And no less than 175 exhibitors will be taking part in four sizeable halls at this modern and airy exhibition centre, just a few miles north of the NEC.

On show will be quite literally thousands of products in a showcase that provides evidence of the relative health and vitality of a sector that, despite almost 90% of UK homes now having been fitted with double glazing of one sort or another, continues to thrive. The fact of the matter is that the latest windows and doors offer levels of performance that were simply not a twinkle in the eyes of the most ardent home improver or estates manager twenty years ago. Security and especially energy efficiency have taken giant leaps forward whilst costs, in real terms, have fallen significantly.

As a few hours at this extraordinary event will demonstrate…

The Fabricator Installer Trade (FIT) Show takes place at The International Centre Telford on 12th, 13th and 14th April 2016. For more information including FREE registration go to: www.fitshow.co.uk.

For details of the FREE Seminar programme go here: www.fitshow.co.uk/seminars

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FIT Show opened the right doors for Carlisle-based finesse group

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Previous FIT Shows have offered installers valuable new opportunities, even when those companies are already considered top of their game, it has emerged.

One such company is Carlisle-based Finesse Group, which offers a full range of home improvement services. But despite the broad reach of the company, owners Ian Milburn and Kevin McGarr believe in the power of exhibitions to help keep them on top of their game – and not just for the products.

“It is one of the most exciting times in our company’s history,” Ian said, “and we need good trade shows not only to find the newest products but also to meet the people that are selling them. We don’t just buy products; we seek trading partners – companies that we can grow with.”

Ian said that he missed the first FIT Show in 2013, but was impressed with the second event in 2014, which he attended with an open mind. While he didn’t have a written plan, he had mentally noted a number of companies that he wanted to see, including Northern Ireland based door and window manufacturer Apeer.

“We were aware of the company through its marketing and advertising so we wanted to meet them, to see their products, and get a feel for the people behind them,” he said. “We came away believing that we could grow our business with them.”

Apeer is headed by Asa McGillian, and exhibitions are a vital tool in achieving his stated goal of achieving sales of £20 million by the end of 2016.

“We have attended both FIT Shows because the event is the natural successor to Glassex, which we always found worked for us,” Asa said.

“At the 2013 FIT Show we launched our Modo contemporary door range; we always go to a show with something new to launch and we are constantly developing and introducing new products. We need good shows to seek out a very special sort of customer; we are selective and meeting people face to face is the best way to find them.”

Apeer followed up Finesse’s enquiry within a few days after the FIT Show, and the subsequent relationship has worked out extremely well.

“Our foam-filled composite doors are leading the way not just through their superb quality, but also through the design and exciting sales campaigns we have done on the back of the new options,” Ian said. “We like to work with companies that strive to meet the standards that we attain and offer a service that helps us to continue to support our customers in the very best way possible. Apeer do that, and more.”

More than 175 further exhibitors can be seen at The Fabricator Installer Trade (FIT) Show which takes place at The International Centre Telford on the 12th, 13th and 14th April 2016. Entry is free but avoid the queues by registering early at www.fitshow.co.uk.

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Future FIT Show dates and venue announced

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Window, Door and Conservatory Trade event moves to NEC in 2017

FIT Events Ltd, organisers of The Fabricator Installer Trade (FIT) Show, has announced the dates and venue of events to take place after 2016.

From 2017 The FIT Show moves to the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) Birmingham, the UK’s premier exhibition venue, taking place in Halls 6 and 7. May 23rd, 24th and 25th have been chosen for 2017, with the following FIT Show to take place two years later at the same venue on 21st, 22nd and 23rd May 2019.

The decision to move to the NEC comes after extensive research to find another venue as the event had outgrown its original Telford location. A spokesman for the organisers said: “A move was inevitable to handle the continuing demand for exhibition space and to allow the development of the event generally, including visitor numbers. For now however our focus and priority in every respect remains the April 2016 FIT Show which takes place at The International Centre Telford on 12th, 13th and 14th April.”

The Fabricator Installer Trade (FIT) Show takes place at The International Centre Telford on 12th, 13th 14th April 2016. General information on The FIT Show can be found at: www.fitshow.co.uk.

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Sell more windows, sell your business, pay less tax

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Only the FIT for Business Seminar programme features these key issues and many more…

The FIT for Business seminar programme has been announced and once again sessions have been included that strike right at the heart of the key issues facing Britain’s window and door fabricators, installers, specifiers and other professionals.

For glass and glazing business owners such issues as ‘Exit Planning’ are covered, a subject facing hundreds of business owners looking to sell or hand on their businesses; and of course, another session looks at the resultant issues regarding taxation.

Broader topics relating to legislation are also covered by The FIT for Business seminars which look closely at important factors in the planning and specification fields, with presentations covering Glazing in Conservation Areas for example; and BIM – Building Information Modelling – a key subject for any companies involved in public works. And an issue that simply cannot be ignored are MTCs…every installer should understand how MTCs are affected by the Building Regulations.

A FIT Show regular is sales guru Paul Clifton, who breaks from his UK tour with his Window Installer Sales Lab to tell delegates ‘How to transform your business from Average to Fortune’. Sales Superstar Paul’s previous presentations have filled the theatre and demand is bound to be high for his next daily show. Another highlight is the UK debut of SageGlass, the amazing glass that tints on demand. A live demonstration will be possible following a full installation of the product in the exhibition hall itself.

Divided into four groups of presentations: Industry; Public Sector & industry; Business; and Specification & Design the 2016 FIT for Business Seminars are up-to-the-minute and topical, presenting 22 sessions over three days on key subjects delivered by the foremost experts in their fields. Many presentations are followed by Advice Clinics in which one-to-one sessions with the presenters will be possible, on a first-come, first served basis.

Attendance to all sessions is free of charge to FIT Show visitors. The full programme can be seen at www.fitshow.co.uk/seminars where visitors may also register online to receive regular updates about The FIT Show and for when they visit, smooth their way into the halls and seminars.

 

The Fabricator Installer Trade (FIT) Show takes place at The International Centre Telford on 12th, 13th 14th April 2016. Visitors can reserve their free tickets now by visiting: http://www.fitshow.co.uk/reserve-your-tickets. General information on The FIT Show can be found at: www.fitshow.co.uk.

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FIT show a systemfest as most big name profile companies take part

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More than a dozen PVC-U and aluminium systems producers are showing at The FIT Show when it opens on April 12th, 13th and 14th next year, the biggest gathering of such companies for a decade.

With many of the industry’s established stalwarts exhibiting there are also one or two newer names joining the throng and all are claiming something new on offer, including brand new systems. However, all are keeping their big items under wraps for the time being.

FIT Show managing director Paul Godwin worked on Glassex for more than a decade and says this is the most impressive gathering of such companies for probably 10 years: “There has been a significant rationalisation of the systems companies since the heady days of the ‘80s and ‘90s but the dozen plus systems companies exhibiting at next year’s FIT Show is the best turnout for a decade, and includes most of the big names.

Companies exhibiting so far include: Deceuninck, Duraflex, Eclectic, Eurocell, Ikon, Liniar, Profile 22, Rehau, Selecta, Spectus, Swish, Synseal and VEKA.

“This is great news for the window industry,” Paul continued. “That these companies are investing millions of pounds in design, development, new machinery and tooling at this time is great news for all of us. It shows great faith in the future of the industry.

“As many of these companies are revealing brand new, ground-up systems, it presents an excellent opportunity for fabricators and installers that may be looking at additional or alternative systems, who can use the opportunity to compare most of the major brands, all under the same roof at the same time.”

Paul suggests that it shows an extraordinary commitment to The FIT Show: “That The FIT Show has become a key part of the window, door and conservatory industry’s calendar is confirmed by these and other exhibitors coordinating their product development cycle with the Show. We see that as a big responsibility and will be pulling out all the stops to make sure the 2016 FIT Show is the best so far. It is already the biggest in terms of the number and variety of exhibitors and should be in everyone’s diary: 12th, 13th 14th April 2016 at the International Centre Telford!”

More information on The FIT Show can be found at: www.fitshow.co.uk.

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