Why competition is an opportunity not a threat

Rising costs, inflation and a slowing housing market are pressuring UK businesses, intensifying competition and raising the stakes for winning customer loyalty. Mike Parczuk, Managing Director of Sternfenster, gives us his take on why rising competition in the industry is a valuable challenge.

Creating a strategy to stay ahead of the competition in times of economic uncertainty, escalating costs, and persistent inflation can be make-or-break for businesses. This environment challenges and encourages companies to streamline operations and to explore new ways to stay competitive.

“Ultimately, choice is a good thing for installers,” says Mike Parczuk, Managing Director of Sternfenster. “It means fabricators must invest to make sure they’re giving a better product in the most efficient way possible to stay relevant alongside competitors.”

For both suppliers and installers in the fenestration industry, this is a time of careful decisions and smart choices to help businesses both attract new customers and retain loyal ones, to succeed against the competition. This increases the pressure for suppliers to clearly establish themselves to installers as partners with a reliable reputation.

“We want to be kept on our toes because we want to be one of the best,” Mike continues. “We work very hard to deliver everything in the most efficient way possible.”

That commitment to continuous improvement shows through Sternfenster’s ongoing training, upskilling and utilising the latest tech to deliver the quality customers expect. A key result of these investments is shown by Sternfenster’s record COTIF score in July, demonstrating the fabricator’s reliability and quality service that its customers can rely on.

“We’re only human. We don’t always get it right,” Mike explains. “But, making sure you really focus on what the customer wants is the key to getting there.”

As such, Sternfenster continues to listen and adapt to customer needs. Digital innovations such as the EasyAdmin+, SF+, and their continuously evolving product range set them apart from competitors.

EasyAdmin+ is Sternfenster’s cloud-based quoting system that lets installers simply create quotes for PVC-U, aluminium, and glass products at any time, 24/7. The tool automatically pulls in customer pricing and, once an order is won, transfers it straight to production – reducing manual errors and smoothing the process from sales to manufacturing.

According to Mike, investing in Sternfensters product range and digital tools, despite challenging economic conditions, strengthens the market and supports customers.

“We treat competition as motivation,” says Mike. “That’s why we listen closely to customers and launch products such as the Alitherm 400 and our new handle hardware range. All so our customers can have a clear edge to stay ahead of the game and win as many sales as they can.”

“Ultimately, while the customer won’t say to me ‘Mike, I need a new glass line, or a new welder’, we recognise that that investment portrays us as a reliable supplier from our customers’ point of view,” he adds.

“We’ll continue to invest in the future because that builds a sustainable business for everyone that relies on us.”

For more information visit www.sternfenster.com email sales@sternfenster.co.uk or call 01522 512525. Alternatively, join the conversation on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/sternfenster