Developed through a combination of consumer research and advancing glass technology, 2006 will see Hurst launch a whole raft of new products, designs and techniques that only have one aim: to support the customer and give them new things to sell and just as importantly, help improve their bottom line.

There has been a surprising level of interest in Hurst's first promotion of the year for ceramic and bevel designs, which has been extended to cope with the demand.

Ceramic bevels

This luxury range of ornate, sandblasted and specially seamed glass bevel designs is only available from Hurst Plastics.

Each glass design is sandblasted by hand using age-old techniques that give a far higher quality finish than a printed ceramic effect and, while the deeply sandblasted design offers greater levels of privacy, they still allow light to flow into the home.

Each panel is handcrafted in the UK using only the highest grade materials, all of which conform to all the current British Standards. These exceptional glass designs with their partnership of exquisite channels laced with sparkling clear-cut bevels means that Hurst customers can offer their customers something truly unique.

New products that are set to be launched in the next few months include new designs to the Hurst Crystals range and the Hurst Jewels Triple Glazed range.

These new designs feature delicate patterns cut with a level of intricacy that has never been seen before. Using groundbreaking cutting techniques, Hurst's new engraved and bevelled crystals offer a fresh approach to a traditional best seller.

Jewel in the crown

In the past, only those customers with deep pockets could be persuaded to enhance their home with a top of the range triple glazed crystal bevel glass design, but now the new de-luxe Jewel range brings the very best designs at a price that is within the reach of many more customers.

I defy you to find a triple glazed crystal unit that has the same level of craftsmanship

The offer of ‘The Best for Less' usually means a lower standard copy of the real thing, but with the Hurst Jewels Triple Glazed range the opposite is true.

Mark Atkinson, Hurst Plastics, sales director, says: ‘I defy you to find a triple glazed crystal unit that has the same level of craftsmanship in the lead work or quality in the bevels. Currently available to only a select number of our customers, I predict that Hurst Jewels will set the standard for triple glazed in the industry for many years to come.'

Sterling effort on composites

After championing the polymer composite door and investing in a state of the art factory, staff training and in helping educate the public and building industry specifiers, the Secured by Design, Hurst Sterling range goes from strength to strength.

Together with the growing sales into private homes they are now the door of choice for new home builders and the social sector. The Hurst polymer composite door now appears as the big growth figure on more and more sales forecasts.

A new way of selling panels

‘Consumer research showed that householders choose a new door at a glance and not by choosing a panel style then a glazing option. Hurst was first again by providing its customers with a marketing leaflet price branded by five-glass design types…its simple and it works', Mark Atkinson explains

The industry has without doubt been tough, but while the window market has contracted it has not gone away and the total door market is still buoyant. Those companies that continue to make a decent living will be those who have the vision to change along with the market and Hurst Plastics will continue to support and help its customers get their share.

Source

Glass Age