Shepley celebrates 20, Shepley and Interframe’s approach to different customers

A brief history

Based on the outskirts of Manchester and established in 1986 as a fabricator selling PVC-U frames to the trade, Shepley had the foresight to offer a market-leading specification with the launch of a 70mm system in 1992 and multi-point locking in 1994. In 2000 a management buy-out saw the current owners Gary Torr, Tim Walker and Tony Fry, take the company onto a new level, doubling production to its current level of around 4,000 frames per week.

Growth through acquisition

During more recent times, the buoyant climate of 2003 saw Shepley’s sales soar and the company took the opportunity to grow further through acquisition. Interframe was chosen primarily because they offered a new distribution channel to smaller installers, and this meant there was no direct competition with Shepley’s established retail customers. ‘Traditionally, Shepley only supplies companies who can guarantee around 30 to 40 frames per week’, explains Tim. ‘This is to ensure we can properly service a smaller number of customers rather than chasing a larger number of smaller accounts. Also, at a practical level our HGVs are just not able to deliver to smaller premises because of their sheer size’. Whilst Shepley targets larger retailers, Interframe offers a professional service to smaller customers. ‘Interframe are hands-on offering advice during the survey and fit, and they can deliver direct to site. They also offer all the ancillary products a fitter would want making an Interframe counter a one-stop-shop, for PVC-U frames and related products’.

Shepley are particularly excited about the composite door, which will soon be available with remote controlled locking

The 10th Interframe trade counter opened in May 2005 in Manchester Trafford Park area. With four conservatories, vertical sliders, composite doors and inline patio’s installed at the site, it offers smaller installers a showroom so homeowners can see the products before purchasing. With turnover reaching £20,000 per week it proves that this approach is working, giving smaller installers access to products made at highly efficient factories, where the floors are famously kept spotlessly clean.

Ambitious plans

Interframe and Shepley are a good fit, offering the same down to earth, friendly culture. Together they have ambitious plans with Interframe planning to open two new trade counters per year and Shepley expanding with specialist products division to encompass pre-fabricated Wendland conservatory roofs, composite doors, vertical sliders and inline patios. This division sells direct to installers and fabricators who are looking to buy-in additional products to extend their range.

No customer is too small to ignore, particularly when trading conditions are tough

‘These recent additions to the product mix have enormous potential and we are making good inroads into fabricator installers looking at buying in specialised products’, says Kurt Greatrex, Shepley’s National Sales Manager. ‘Shepley manufacture on average 60 conservatory roofs and 50 composite doors each week, which is an impressive figure considering that the market has suffered this year due to consumer reticence’.

Shepley are particularly excited about the composite door, which will soon be available with a remote control locking option via a key fob style remote, similar to fobs used on cars.

Plenty to celebrate

Shepley and Interframe’s approach rightly confirms that no customer is too small to ignore, particularly when trading conditions are tough. And, through each company specialising in different areas, together they are confident about being here for at least another 20 years.