A Brief History Of Reading Trade Windows

In late 2014, the senior team at Abbey Windows (TV) Ltd recognised a gap in their services. They were delivering an exceptional product range and fast turnaround for a retail company, but couldn’t match this as a trade outlet. Abbey Windows had a retail company’s operational mechanics and strategies, but this didn’t work as well for the trade sector. 

This was the beginning of an idea that would soon grow and become Reading Trade Windows. Under the guidance of Neil Whitehead, the wheels were put in motion to create a sister company that focused on trade instead of retail. In December 2014, Reading Trade Windows opened its doors for the first time.

From the outset, Reading Trade Windows was intended to be more than just another trade shop. Reading Trade Windows was to offer retail service in a trade world. We wanted our knowledge to be a key selling point. If anyone needed to know about building regulations or legislation and the changes to the product market, they would come to us for the answers. 

With a core staff in place and a business plan created, the company was soon up and running. Thanks to the sterling reputation of Abbey Windows, it was fairly easy to build relationships with several respected manufacturing partners, and we received a further boost when Stephen Maguire joined us as a Sales Manager. 

Reading Trade Windows got off the starting blocks quickly, and in our first few months, we were delighted to see the level of interest from our existing customers for the new specialist service. This only grew as word spread around the industry. We started with a £30k a month sale, but this increased to £36k, then £50k, and then £72k in invoiced sales. 

Soon, we employed our own delivery service, approved our own installation partners, and developed our own estimating software. Reading Trade Windows was thriving, and by January 2020, we had established a glowing reputation. Reading Trade Windows and Abbey Windows have a great relationship, but by this point, we had developed an identity of our own.

There were some concerns about how we’d operate when the coronavirus outbreak reached the UK, but we were quickly able to adapt. As part of a larger group, we were privileged to be involved in the early conversations about how the landscape would look once restrictions were relaxed. We kept in touch with our manufacturers and were able to put systems in place to allow us to continue working. 

It was an unusual time, and working with a restricted workforce who couldn’t stand within two metres of each other was a strange experience. However, we found ways to work safely and supply products to our customers so their building projects could continue. It was a different working method, but we kept the wheels moving. Nowadays, Reading Trade Windows is one of the largest independent trade outlets in the southeast. Our annual turnover sits comfortably at £4.4m, which is approximately 8,000 windows, 1,250 doors, and 150 lanterns a year. As the world finally emerges from the shadow of covid, the company looks to go from strength to strength with a customer-focused, experienced and driven team. Our former Technical Director, James Stuart, has taken the reins as Group Managing Director, and we can’t wait to see what the future holds. 

Categories: News

Tags: Abbey Windows, Reading Trade Windows, Trade counter, Windows