Product and Solution the Key to Value Sales

'If I can beat the price, can I have your order?'. Words that striker terror into anyone who is concerned about where our industry is heading, or indeed their own profit margins, but what are we actually doing to differentiate ourselves from the cheap and not so nearly cheerful elements, who seem to repeatedly come and go, using the cheapest possible products that rarely deliver all that they boast and each time further eroding market prices in their search for a quick buck?

Millenco Hardware, which has been manufacturing high performance door locking solutions for PVC, timber and composite applications for over a decade, has enjoyed steady and continuous growth in this time and according to General Manager, Peter Hunt this has been in no small part due the company's ability to differentiate itself from its competition.

'By manufacturing high performance products that offer genuine advantages to the fabricator, installer and end user alike, we have been able to secure a core customer base, who in turn differentiate themselves as suppliers of high performance products. The net result is that our customers are buying on quality, peace of mind and value for money, creating stronger customer loyalty and cementing good trading relationships'.

Millenco initially built its reputation through the design, development and eventual manufacture of the Mantis range of multi-point door locks. A family of locks developed for specific applications on a wide variety of materials. Instantly identifiable through its unique combination hook and linear bolt locking points, Millenco was the first company in the UK to offer a centre hook, instead of the traditional deadbolt, a format that is now used by almost all multi-point door lock manufacturers.

Peter explained, 'dedicated door locks for specific applications, is simply using the right tools for the right job'. This philosophy has enabled Millenco to manufacture the very best in performance hardware, including a new French door solution that has already exceeded the latest requirements for PAS24 on a number of profiles.

In recent years the company has pioneered Kanban delivery solutions for larger fabricators; this environmentally superior delivery system offers dramatically reduced waste and stock holding, improving both ordering efficiencies and balance sheets. Delivering on Millenco's own vehicles and utilising fully reusable containers, clients typically receive one or two 'just in time' deliveries per week. With all the empty containers removed for refilling and virtually no packaging to dispose of, the Millenco Kanban is a true logistical solution rather than simply a delivery service.

2008 has already seen many changes for Millenco, with the rest of the year certain to produce more. After forging strategic partnerships with Securistyle, Paddock and Hoppe, Millenco presented itself to the industry, at Glassex08, as a new generation of manufacturing distributor. With the emphasis firmly on performance over pence, the company unveiled new generations of both door and window locks as well suited furniture, anti-manipulation cylinders and high performance hinges, all accompanied by the company's first comprehensive product brochure.

'This is a very big year for Millenco and we have been exceptionally pleased with the response we have had back from the visitors to the exhibition, there seems a genuine desire for high quality product that performs in excess of the customers expectations.'

Glassex also saw Millenco launch its new 10 year 'Millenco Protected' surface finish guarantee on all brass door furniture plated in either Chrome or PVD Gold, the range which includes urn knockers and numerals, as well as handles and letter plates does attract a premium, however Millenco is adamant that the difference in price is more than offset by the true 'fit and forget' nature of the high performance finishes, especially in the light of the well documented failures of high lustre finishes, especially chrome, across the industry.

Peter concluded 'In these testing times it is important that we donít forget what inspires the consumer. Today's market place sees a wiser and more astute customer, buying windows and doors as a 'want' purchase, to enhance their homes and improve their lifestyle, more often than the historical 'need' to replace a stiff door or a draughty window. The end user wants value for money more than the cheapest price and presented with all the facts and the benefits of a superior product, understand the concept of getting what they pay for.'

Email: sales@millenco.com
Web: http://www.millenco.com