HOW A BESPOKE METAL FENCING SOLUTION DELIVERED STRENGTH, SPEED, AND SUBTLETY
ALBANY’S DESIGNS ON SHED’S HEAVEN
Northamptonshire-based Albany Sheds is embracing modern technology when it comes to delivering bespoke designs for their sheds and garden buildings
Currently celebrating 40 years in business, Albany supplies many fencing, landscaping and builders merchants as well as garden centres across the UK with their 3D Shed Designer (3DSD) software proving to be a popular feature.
Albany MD Tom Burbidge explained: “We have retailers from the Scottish Highlands and Islands right down as far as the Channel Islands and even supply a customer in Falkland Islands in the south Atlantic but are always looking to recruit new partners who could sell our buildings using this new technology.
“Anyone can use 3DSD to easily design and price a building as the price shown is the retail price including VAT. The cost price to retailers depends on their involvement in the sale. All activity on a retailer’s store can be monitored on the retailer portal and it is fully transparent.
“If you are looking to add product lines and increase revenues in 2024 then our 3DSD provides a major benefit. Sheds and fencing go hand in hand. Why not add hundreds of standard sheds, workshops, summer houses and log cabins as well as endless combinations of made to order buildings to your website with one link. It really is that simple with our design software.
“We offer three options for retailers. Our Affiliates Scheme involves adding a unique store link to your website with Albany handling all enquiries and fulfilling orders direct (within 125 miles Desborough). You will receive a 10% commission on all sales.
“Secondly, we offer a Sales Only option. Your salespeople handle enquiries and generate quotes and orders via the retailer portal. You take a 20% commission and Albany fulfil the order direct.
“Finally, we have full involvement where orders are delivered to your yard in bulk for final delivery to customer. This delivers around a 33% net margin.
“Margins can be increased by raising sales prices on your storefront and the more you promote the system the more you will sell. You can start with a pre- configured model or a blank canvas, simply adding doors, windows and other options as required.
“The unique configurator increases order value and minimises misinterpretation as all parties have the same information. The average sale price is around £1500. Our top performing store sold almost £500k in retail sales using the system in 2023.
“Even if you are already selling a range of sheds you can increase your offering by adding an online 3DSD store,” added Tom.
Albany Sheds is a family- owned business that employs around 70 at its three sites and HQ in Desborough. It’s come a long way since its formation to 1984 (originally making fence panels) and is now one of the main shed manufacturers and suppliers to the trade in the UK.
Tom went on: “We use thicker than average timber for our sheds and garden buildings with all of our FSC certified timber coming from Northern Europe and the UK.
“Our best seller by volume remains the mid-range Norfolk T&G Apex but we also manufacture a lot of other standard and made to order models including the heavy-duty Major range – one of the strongest sheds on the market.
“We are looking forward to 2024 being another positive year of growth with our 3DSD software helping to further enhance the potential of sheds and garden buildings.
“We would like to encourage retailers to try it out for themselves on our website by contacting our friendly sales team with any questions,” added Tom.
