LONGEVITY IN BUSINESS: FORGING PARTNERSHIPS WITH INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS

Quality is a top priority. According to the Office for National Statistics National Wellbeing Survey in March 2024, 83% of UK adults have made some or a lot of changes to their lifestyle, in order to help tackle environmental issues.

As well as reducing overall consumption, opting for preloved items, and improving the environmental credentials of the products they purchase, a “buy well, buy once” mentality is also coming to the fore, with potential clients prioritising quality, made-to-last products for their purchases.

Looking for items that transcend trends and offer timeless appeal, while also proving durable and long-lasting, there is a growing collective of consumers that are paying for quality, giving installers an opportunity to work with quality-conscious clientele. While value for money is essential, this growing base of potential clients also tend to be less price conscious and more focussed on the partnership relationship offered by their suppliers; something that Walford Timber prioritises too. What’s more, speaking to Installers that drive to operate in the quality installation market, they note an increase in adjacent revenue with customers extending project parameters or returning at a later date, for more hard landscaping offered by the company they trust. In short, prioritising quality drives a long-term sustainable, competitive advantage for your business.

At Walford Timber, we believe that sustainable growth stems from prioritising quality, fostering trust, and supporting the community around us. Despite the challenges posed by a volatile market, we have seen steady growth for our business and our installers, connected not only to our quality, made-to-last approach, and good value pricing but importantly fostered by our commitment to continuous improvement. This means we always strive to do better, and it is this approach that has led to us just being crowned WPA Benchmark Treater of the Year, recognising us as a timber treatment specialist that goes above and beyond and has quality processes.

As highly valued clients, it is pertinent to us too that installers are able to grow their business sustainably, and we support their efforts. Helping our installers to tap into the quality-focused homeowner market, we operate our Installer Network, a team of vetted and approved installers, judged on quality of installation, efficiency, and customer service. It has helped us to connect the homeowners that choose our products to connect with high-quality experts to install them; a win-win for our customer base.

The Installer Network has created a credible team of friendly experts, trusted by us to get the job done with care and to Walford Timber standards. When we receive a request, we can recommend a local professional from our Installer Network. Not only does this instil a level of trust with our homeowners, as they know their garden project will be executed to the highest standard, it also instils a level of security for our installers as they receive a more reliable source of work, helping them maintain a steady income.

By aligning our operations with the needs of both our installers and customers, we have created a resilient business model that nurtures business relationships, adapts to market fluctuations, and sustains growth. As part of our commitment to environmental stewardship and customer satisfaction, our Installer Network helps create a supportive ecosystem where installers can thrive, and customers receive top-tier service. In essence, by helping others succeed, we secure our own future.

As our Installer Network grows, Walford Timber remains optimistic about the timber trade’s future. Particularly in context of the ‘Timber Construction Roadmap’, a new policy enacted by the UK government which outlines barriers and solutions faced by the timber industry. In alignment with the UK’s wider aims for decarbonisation, we hope to see further support of sustainable timber as a construction material and innovation within the industry.

For industry experts who excel in their field and wish to offer their customers the best quality products on the market, we welcome you to join us.

To learn more about our Installer Network, please get in touch by calling 01989 563614.